CWC2023: One legged Maxwell's incredible double pulls off sensational win for Australia vs Afghans

 

Cricket is a game of great uncertainty .

Australia's Glenn Maxwell played an epic and incredible innings against Afghanistan.  His double hundred won the team from the face of certain defeat.  At the end, he left the field winning the team by playing practically on one leg.

 After losing 7 wickets for 91 runs, it seemed that Australia would lose by a big margin.  Glenn Maxwell was the only batsman at the crease.  Pat Cummins was the captain of the team.  Maxwell pulled the team from there.  He started a counter attack.  He played one big shot after another.  Brave cricket was seen in his bat.  He also received his award.  Mujeeb ur Rahman dropped an easy catch from Maxwell.   Maxwell took the team to 292 runs from 91 runs.  Made a breathtaking and sensational double hundred.  Maxwell could not walk due to leg cramps.  He left the field winning the team practically playing on one leg.  Wankhede saw an incredible innings of 201 runs off 128 balls.  The whole stadium stood up and applauded him.

Maxwell showed why cricket is called the game of great uncertainty.  There is nothing to say until the last ball.  Otherwise, who would have thought that the picture of the game would change in this way.  He was kidding about Afghanistan's bowling.  There is no corner of the field where he did not hit a shot.  Stands up and hits a six from cover to mid-wicket.  Again his switch hit went over third man for the boundary.  Maxwell showed how to play shots if you only have mental strength and confidence in your shot.    From Rashid Khan to Naveen Ul Haq, no one could get Maxwell.  Australia won the biggest run chase in World Cup history.  This is the biggest win by runs in Wankhede too.

 As a result of this victory, Australia reached the semi-finals of the World Cup as the third team.  On the other hand, Afghanistan made it difficult for themselves to go to the semi-finals by losing the match instead of winning.  They still have a chance though but a remote one now . 

After winning the toss, Ibrahim Zadran pulled Afghanistan's batting.  The team's most consistent batsman in this World Cup scored runs in this match as well.  Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for 21 runs.  Ibrahim formed one pair after another with the team's middle order batters.  Rahmat Shah (30), Shahidi (26), Azmatullah Omarzai (22) each started but failed to score big runs.  But Ibrahim survived on one side.

 Ibrahim did not get a hundred against Pakistan.  Despite playing well, he was dismissed for 87 runs.  He didn't let that happen in this match.  He went down to open and survived till the end.  Became Afghanistan's first batsman to score a century in the World Cup.  Afghanistan scored 92 runs in the last 10 overs.  Rashid accompanied Ibrahim.  Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc's ball flew into the Wankhede gallery.  In the end, Afghanistan scored 291 runs for 5 wickets in 50 overs.  Ibrahim remained unbeaten with 129 and Rashid scored a typically  blistering 35 runs.

In response, Australia did not get off to a good start.  Travis Head was dismissed for no runs by Naveen Ul Haque in the second over edging an outswinger .  That's the beginning.  Naveen also dismissed Mitchell Marsh in the power play lbw to an inswinger for a rapid 24 .  David Warner was in trouble from the start.  Azmatullah returned him for 18.  Josh English was dismissed on the very next ball.

 In this situation, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne could have pulled the innings of Australia.  Smith was not in the team for this match.  Labuschagne (14) was run out in a misunderstanding after looking in good shape .  Australia got a big shock.  Rashid came to bowl and dismissed Marcus Stoinis.  Australia lost 6 wickets for 87 runs.  It was clear to see that Australia is under pressure to chase runs.  Otherwise, the way their batsmen played shots against the Afghan bowlers is a crime in international cricket.

 It was almost impossible to win the match from this situation.  But from there Maxwell's struggle began.  He played fearless cricket.  Luck also favored Maxwell.  His easy catch fell.  Maxwell was pulling the team along with Cummins.  As long as he stayed, Australia had little hope.  He was getting tired.  As a result, he started playing big shots.  Mumbai's smaller ground was making his job a little easier.  He scored a hundred off 76 balls.  This is Maxwell's second century in this World Cup.  A 100-run partnership is between two batters.  Maxwell could not run due to leg cramps.  Again and again the physio entered the field and examined him.  Even after that he did not give up.  He knew that he would have to survive to the end to win the team.  Cummins was also playing patiently and most sensibly his invaluable 12 not out off 68 balls . 

Maxwell could not even move at the end.  He was playing standing in one place.  Even after that he was hitting four sixes every over using his bottom hand to great effect .  It was clear to see how much pain Maxwell was in.  But did not give up the fight.  He was fighting like a warrior.  As the target approached, the pressure mounted on Afghanistan.  They were also making mistakes in fielding.  In the end, Maxwell won the team by hitting a four & six.  He made his double hundred by hitting a six.  Australia won the match with 19 balls to spare and there was no doubt on who will be the man of the match.