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| Photo: ICC/Getty Images |
In the 39th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell scored an unbelievable double century and dusted Afghanistan.
Maxwell's unbeaten 201 off 128 balls helped Australia beat Afghanistan by three wickets to qualify for the semi-finals.
Australia achieved Afghanistan's target of 292 runs in the 47th over at the loss of 7 wickets.
Glenn Maxwell's 201-run innings would not be wrong if it is called the best innings in ODI cricket.
A Glenn Maxwell masterclass guided Australia to the #CWC23 semi-finals 👊#AUSvAFG 📝: https://t.co/SYNXNcMUf1 pic.twitter.com/dRI0X6YbkW
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 7, 2023
After losing 7 wickets on a total score of 91 runs, Maxwell hit sixes and fours in the ground alone despite a leg problem and removed the Afghan bowlers.
Maxwell's innings of 201 runs included 10 sixes and 21 fours. He has also become the first batter for Australia to score a double century in ODI cricket.
Australia is the third team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup 2023, before India and South Africa have already qualified for the knockout stage.
The match between the two teams was played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat against Australia.
Afghanistan scored 291 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 50 overs, Ibrahim Zadran remained unbeaten on 129 runs.
Ibrahim Zadran became the first batter to score a century for Afghanistan in the World Cup. Apart from this, Rahmat Shah scored 30 and Hashmatullah scored 26 runs, Azmatullah 22, Rehmanullah Gurbaz 21 and Mohammad Nabi scored 12 runs. Rashid Khan remained unbeaten on 35 runs.
For Australia, Josh Hazlewood took two wickets, Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell took one wicket each.
Chasing Afghanistan's target of 292 runs, Australia's start was disappointing, the Australian top order proved to be a wall of sand in front of the Afghan bowlers and half the Kangaroos returned to the pavilion on the total score of 69.
David Warner 18, Mitchell Marsh 24, Labuschagne 14, Travis Head and Josh Ingles were dismissed for zero.
Australia's sixth wicket fell on the total score of 87 when Stoinis was dismissed for 6 runs, the team's score reached 91 runs and Mitchell Starc was dismissed for 3 runs.
Australia's seven players were dismissed for 91 runs, in such a situation, Maxwell and captain Cummins took over the team's batting and formed a 202-run partnership.
Maxwell and Cummins shared a 202-run partnership for the 8th wicket, this partnership included only 12 runs from Cummins, the rest of the score was Maxwell's.
Glenn Maxwell completed a double century with a six to give Australia a spectacular victory.
Maxwell was awarded the Player of the Match award for his brilliant batting against Afghanistan.
