Australian all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell wanted to stick to the batting plans as much as possible after they found themselves in all sorts of trouble at 91-7 while chasing 292 runs against Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday.
Maxwell smashed the record books with his blistering knock of unbeaten 201 off just 128 balls with the help of 21 fours and 10 maximums. This is Australia’s highest individual score (their first double-century in ODIs) and also the team’s biggest run-chase in World Cup history.
In fact, Maxwell had the rub of the green on his side as he dropped on 33 by Mujeeb ur Rahman at short fine leg. However, Maxwell took Afghanistan bowlers to the cleaners and battled cramps to play one of the best ODI innings of all time.
Maxwell brought his century off just 76 balls and scored the second-fastest double hundred off just 128 balls. The right-hander added 202 runs (the highest for the seventh wicket or below) with skipper Pat Cummins, and the latter contributed only 12 runs whereas Maxwell scored 179 runs in the alliance.
Maxwell’s knock of 201 runs is also the highest individual score in a run-chase in ODIs. Furthermore, he returned with figures of 1-55 in his quota of 10 overs.
Maxwell was awarded the Player of the Match for his whirlwind knock. He said after the match, “It was hot while fielding today, I haven’t done a lot of exercise in the heat, it got a hold on me today. I wanted to stay back and get some movement (on my legs). Not too much (when asked about plans at 92/7), just stick to the batting plans as much as possible, for me, still be positive, still look to play my shots, that LBW, it was going just above (the stumps), probably that made me be more proactive.”
He added, “A hint of swing and nip (off the surface), as it happens here under lights, they bowled beautifully to exploit that. It would have been nice if it was a chanceless knock, but I had my chances, to make the most of it tonight was something I can be proud of. Amazing, after the first two games, people were quick to write us off. The belief was always there (as a team), after today, it would have gone a bit higher.”
With this win, Australia has sealed their semifinal berth and will take on South Africa. The Aussies will play their last league stage match against Bangladesh at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Saturday.
