Australian skipper Pat Cummins has tipped Glenn Maxwell’s magnum opus knock of 201 runs as the greatest ODI innings ever. Australia was on the mat at 91-7 while chasing 292 runs against Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday.
However, Maxwell bailed his team out of the jail as he dealt in boundaries, especially after getting serious cramps. Maxwell broke a plethora of records in his mind-boggling knock but more importantly, he helped Australia win by three wickets and qualify for the semis.
The all-rounder smashed 21 fours and 10 maximums in his piece-de-resistance knock. Maxwell’s 201 is the highest individual score for Australia in ODIs and also the highest ever in any run-chase in the 50-over format. The all-rounder added 202 runs with Pat Cummins, the highest for the seventh wicket or below in ODIs.
In fact, Australia looked down and out but Maxwell didn’t give up as he took Afghanistan bowlers to the cleaners. The right-hander literally played on one leg and made the most of his strong wrists to clear the boundary towards the end.
Maxwell was dropped by Mujeeb ur Rahman when he was on 33 at short fine leg and he made Afghanistan pay for that mistake.
“I mean, just ridiculous. I don’t know how you describe this,” Cummins said at the post-match presentation after Australia’s three-wicket victory. “Great win but Maxy was out of this world.
“It’s got to be the greatest ODI innings that’s ever happened. We were just chatting and I think it’s just one of those days where you go, yep when that happened, I was here at the stadium. And we feel very lucky to be here.”
In fact, Adam Zampa had to come down from the pavilion on almost three occasions but Maxwell decided to keep going despite struggling with cramps.
Cummins added, “We had two NSW players lining up, Zampa was on and off three times, but Maxi wanted to stay out there. It is important to remember you can win from anywhere. Real believe in the team and we are in the semi-finals now, that’s great. (On what they could do better) Don’t think it is the time and the place, I’m going to pause that. I think the toss is a bit tricky out here, the first 20 overs are key. Obviously, there are things we could have done better.”
The Aussies will play their last league stage match against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Saturday.
