Glenn Maxwell played arguably one of the finest ODI knocks of all time against Afghanistan, scoring an unbeaten 201 in 128 balls, battling cramps and extreme humidity to help Australia into the semi-final of the 2023 World Cup.
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Australia were reduced to 91-7 in their pursuit of 292 against Afghanistan, which become the highest ODI run chase at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Maxwell, who was given two lifelines and started walking after an lbw appeal, which was reversed by the DRS, then went on to play a record-shattering knock, scoring 69 percent of the team’s runs himself.
He also became the first batter to score a double ton in a run chase, with the previous 10 batters all making 200 or more batting first. The previous best score in the second innings of a men’s ODI was 193 by Fakhar Zaman against South Africa two years ago.
Maxwell was the first Australia batter to make a men’s ODI double ton, ending with the highest individual score by a player from his country. He surpassed Shane Watson’s 185*, which had been scored in 2011 against Bangladesh.
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It was also the first time that a non-opener scored 200 or more in an ODI innings, making it the highest individual score by a player batting at No.3 or below. It was also only the third time that a batter has made a World Cup double-century, with Chris Gayle (215) and Martin Guptill (237*) having achieved the feat in 2015.
The unbeaten 202-run stand between Maxwell and Pat Cummins also broke records, becoming the highest-ever stand for the eighth wicket in an ODI. Cummins contributed only 12 off 68 balls at a strike rate of 17.65 in the partnership, making it the seventh-slowest knock of more than 10 in a 50-over match. It was also the first time this century that a batter has made more than 10 runs at a strike rate below 18 and won a game.
Australia have now assured themselves of a spot in the second semi-final of the competition.