T20 World Cup 2011 Final Match Highlights

[Paula Shuffleburg]

Australiavs Afghanistan Highlights, Cricket World Cup 2023: Glenn Maxwell scored the first double hundred of the 2023 ODI World Cup to power Australia to a three-wicket heist against Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Ibrahim Zadran became the first Afghan batter to score a hundred at the World Cup as Afghanistan posted 291 against Australia. Earlier, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bat. Veteran Australian batter Steve Smith missed out with a vertigo and was replaced by Mitchell Marsh, while Glenn Maxwell returned to the playing eleven in place of Cameron Green. Afghanistan made one change, bringing in seamer Naveen-ul-Haq for Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Afghanistan set Australia a target of 292. They had them pinned at 91 for 7. And then Maxwell happened, as he made a mockery of the run chase. Wounded and unable to even stand on his feet, he went on to score an unbeaten 201 to lead Australia to a three-wicket win, which secured their spot in the semifinals.

After playing arguably one of the greatest innings in One-Day Internationals, Glenn Maxwell still found space for a lament: that he had ridden his luck at times as he scored an unbeaten 201 to help Australia cross the line at the Wankhede Stadium against Afghanistan.

Batting first, Afghanistan had piled on 291/5 and then reduced Australia to 91/7 by the 19th over of the second innings. It was then that Maxwell took over and put Afghan batters to the sword despite cramping severely throughout the innings. He collapsed to the ground at times, and could only powerwalk his way through singles. But so dominant was his batting that his partner in the middle, Pat Cummins, only needed to score 12 runs off 68 balls.

Pat Cummins: Ridiculous. Don't know how to describe it. Great win! It has got to be the greatest thing that has ever happened. One of those days people will say yeah, I was at the stadium for this game. He (Maxwell) was great, he was calm. He always had a plan. Even from 200 behind to be able to win the game that way, it was really special. (On whether Maxwell wanted to walk off) 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 belief 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.

Hashmatullah Shahidi: Very disappointed. Cricket is a funny game, it was unbelievable for us. We were in the game, our bowlers started very well and the dropped chances hurt us. After that, Maxwell doesn't stop, he played every kind of shot and I can give credit to him. I think the dropped catches were the key, after that Maxwell played really well. Our bowlers tried their best but he didn't give any chance to us. Proud of the team, but we will be disappointed tonight. We didn't think it would be this way, part of the game. This is cricket. We will try to come back strong against South Africa. He (Ibrahim Zadran) must be proud of himself, I am also proud that he is the first Afghan with a WC hundred.

Glenn Maxwell: 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. 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.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman from the other end. And Pat Cummins has just put his bat on his knees to applaud his mate. Back to back sixes are followed by a piercing four through covers and Australia are one hit away from a one. Maxwell one six away from a 200. And so, he launches one into the nightsky and brings up a spectacular double hundred to close the game.

Australia beat Afghanistan by three wickets and hand on your heart, you did not see that coming. No one did. Glenn Maxwell lives up to his name. Puts on The Big Show at the 2023 ODI World Cup to kill another Afghan dream. The five time world champions had been reduced to seven down for 91. Ninety One. And now, they've chased down 292 with 19 balls to spare and you just had to see it to believe it. One for the ages and Ian Smith in the comms finds an apt phrase for the player of the match. "He shouldn't have to walk off this ground, he should be carried off it." Australia with a sixth straight win. Afghanistan, well they are still in this. What a game. WHAT A GAME!

Rashid Khan to have a final go for the evening. Can he remove Glenn Maxwell? In his last over? No late night fairytale here in the Bollywood town as the Australian talisman sees through the over and retains the strike for the next one.

It has to be now for Afghanistan. Australia need 32 to win from here. It cannot wait and Naveem ul Haq has to be their man. He scampers in to face the batter who's brought the game at this juncture. Half of a batter, who's scored more than half of Australia's runs on the night. He adds six more. Slower ball outside off, picked with ease and dispatched over deep mid wicket for six.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is shown on the big screen. Just how much is that dropped catch of going to haunt him tonight? Almost like an act of rubbing salt to their wounds, Maxwell's shot on the last ball is inches away from being a caught and bowled dismissal. He keeps the strike with a single.

Stop everything that you're doing. Late night ppt deadline, drive the boss crazy. Driving in the middle of a highway, park down the corner. Home chores? They can surely wait. Glenn Maxwell is scripting the innings of a lifetime. Just how has he found the resolve to continue. Just how has he got those wrists going for another boundary down deep square leg. More so, how did he pick that full ball outside off for a picture perfect reverse hit for a six over short third? Marcus Stoinis and the Aussie dressing room have lost it. Their talisman mate is seeing this all the way through. Omarzai spills 15 from his latest.

Pat Cummins holds bay at the other end. The two Aussie batters playing T20 and Test in an ODI match to keep Australia on the front foot. The captain sees through Noor's over. A maiden for the left-armer but Afghanistan need a wicket here.

Ian Smith on the comms is asking the questions all of us are at the moment. Glenn Maxwell heaves Azmatullah Omarzai past long on for four. Brings up his 150 and the Australia dressing room stands to applause. But he ain't done yet. Fullish delivery, on the stumps, and he just angles it down short third for four. "Don't know who's feeling more pain right now? Probably Afghanistan." Yes, Smithy. Yes.

Unbelievable scenes at the Wankhede. Noor Ahmed is belted past extra cover for four by Glenn Maxwell, who is no longer able to bear the pain and goes down on his back like a plank. Not one muscle seems to be working in favor of Maxwell to seeing this off and the Australian physio Nick Jones rushes in. Afghanistan players form a huddle nearby, Rashid Khan leads the chat. This may be the last moment for them to try something to get this game back in their favor.

Pat Cummins can't believe it at the non-striker's end. He shakes his head with a smile on his face. Just a delivery ago, he had denied Glenn Maxwell a single off a hit down long on. The swashbuckling Aussie batter isn't even able to jog his way through the other end. And so, not being able to use his feet to full effect, he plays two shots without any footwork. Naveen goes back of length and he sprays it down fine leg for four. And then, a fuller delivery is bullet down the ground for another. Cummins is all praise for his batting partner. Everyone has to be. Innings of the World Cup contender? Who's to say otherwise.

How fitting is that Big Show nickname? He'd looked in some discomfort with his right knee. Then, in the last over, the other one looked to have picked another cramp. He was also stretching his back in between at the non-striker's end. And just as he whacks Rashid Khan down long on for six, there's another jerk. He's standing tall against all odds for Australia. Seven from the over.

Naveen ul Haq from the other end. Pitches a length ball and Maxwell jabs it down mid wicket, but jerks straightaway. That right knee isn't at comfort at all. He gingerly walks to the non-striker's end and needs falls on his knees to stretch. He may have a back spasm as well as the physio waits on the sideline for the end of the over to come in and check on him.

Rashid Khan brought into the attack from the end Naveen ul Haq bowled the last over. His eighth over and Maxwell is not taking any chances against him. Rightly so, with 11 other overs to choose his options from. But it can also be because of some discomfort in his knee. He'd got some treatment from the physio but it's not gotten any cooler in Mumbai. Three runs off the over.

Maxwell had signalled in the other over that bring Mohammad Nabi to bowl at this stage wasn't the smartest of choices, but Afghanistan persist with him for another over and pay the price. A ramp pull shot down fine leg for four followed by a whack over mid wicket for six.

Right then, the change in the bowling attack that was much awaited. Spin to seam as Naveen ul Haq returns for a sixth over. One has to think if an over from Nabi after Rashid, Noor and Mujeeb was even needed? Afghanistan are desperate for that Maxwell wicket, or even Cummins' for that matter. 200 comes up for Australia and the bowling side's running out of time. Can they wrap up this fairytale with a moment of inspiration from Naveen and Omarzai? Or will Maxwell see through the pacers the way he has the spinners.

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