Maxwell’s knock has already been branded “the greatest of all time'” having taken Australia from 91-7 chasing 292 to a three wicket win with 19 balls to spare. He suffered from severe cramps towards the end of his innings which almost resulted in him having to retire hurt. Instead, he batted on, largely standing on one leg and hobbling between the wickets, and smashed sixes into the stands.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who earlier dropped a sitter off Maxwell when he was on 33*, came on to bowl the 47th over with Australia requiring 21 runs to win and Maxwell on strike. He started with a dot which Maxwell tried to heave over mid-wicket. From there, Maxwell exploded.

He smashed a full ball from Mujeeb on middle stump straight over deep mid-wicket and into the back of the first tier, barely moving his feet due to the cramp. Mujeeb tried dragging his length back for his second ball, which Maxwell duly stood straight to and whacked over deep mid-wicket again. This time, the ball crashed into the advertising boards.

With the equation now only nine runs for an Australia win, Mujeeb bowled his next ball into the pitch well wide of off stump. Again unable to move his feet, Maxwell reached for the ball and was able to make connection with the bottom end of his bat, sending the ball along the ground to cover boundary for a four.

That shot took Maxwell to within five runs of a double-century – something no Australia player had done before in men’s ODIs. He delivered in style, calmly flicking the fifth ball of Mujeeb’s over off his toes and high in front of square over the off side boundary.

The final six secured Australia’s win and place in the semi-finals, a stage of the men’s World Cup they have reached in every edition since 1996.

Watch: Glenn Maxwell hits a flurry of boundaries to seal remarkable victory

 

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