Table of Contents
The 39th match of the ODI World ☂Cup 2023 between Australia and Af⛎ghanistan provided cricket fans around the world with an unforgettable and thrilling contest. In enthralling encounter, Glenn Maxwell emergedꦍ as the hero, guiding Australia to victory in a nail-biting encounter. While Afghanistan put up a commendable fight, their dream of securing their first-ever ODI victory over Australia remained unfulfilled in this heart-po🅠unding showdown.
Afghanistan’s gritty performance
Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first, setting the stage for an intense battle. They managed to post a competitive total of 291/5 in their allotted 50 overs. The standout performance in the Afghan innings came from Ibrahim Zadran, who played a pivotal role in their quest for a historic win with an impressive unbeaten century – 129 runs. Rahmat Shah also made a valuable contribution, adding 30 runs from 44 balls, while Rashid Khan showcased his all-round 🐲abilities by scoring a rapid 35 runs from꧃ just 18 deliveries.
Australia’s Maxwell show
Australia’s chase got off to a rocky start, with early wickets falling rapidly. Travis Head was dismissed for just four runs, and the situation looked dire for the Aussies. However, it was Maxwell’s time to shine. Maxwell played a breathtaking knock, scoring a magnificent double century that left spectators in awe. His 201 runs came from just 128 balls, featuring twenty one fours and ten sixes – a display of power-hitting at its finest.
Maxwell’s brilliance ignited hope in the Australian camp, and it wasn’t long before the tide began to turn in their favour. With the support of his teammates, Maxwell’s exceptional innings kept Australia in contention.
Also READ: Rashid Khan & Co. meet up with Irfan and Yusuf Pathan in Mumbai – ODI World Cup 2023
A thrilling finish
As the match reached its climax, Afghanistan continued to fight valiantly. Rashid, Naveen ul Haq, and Azmatullah Omarzai each picked up two crucial ꦏwickets, ens🌺uring that the contest remained neck and neck. The tension in the stadium was palpable as the match hung in the balance.
In the end, Maxwell’s brilliance and composure under pressure prevailed. He steered Australia to victory despite struggling with cramps, securing a win in the final moments of the game. Afghanistan’s valiant effort had come close to creating history, but they fell agonizingly short of their first-ever ODI victory against Australia. With the win, Australia also secured a spot in the semi-final.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
A wonderful knock by to put Afghanistan in a good position. They started well in th💦e 2nd half𒊎 and played good cricket for 70 overs but the last 25 overs from was more than enough to change their fortune.
From Max pressure to Max perfor꧙mance! This has been…
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)
Congra🏅tulations Clearly the best ODI innings ever. Has always been the most exciting player in𝓀 the world to watch in my opinion.
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381)
Maxwell 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥ꦍ🔥. Never se൩en something like this before . Unreal . Congratulations
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
My goodness Maxi 😮😮😮
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38)
That was special by Maxwell. 🔥
— Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel)
Un-freakin-believable!
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir)
T💫he GREATEST ODI innings of all time .. You could say the GREATEST innings of all time ..
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Saw this coming. 200 in a run-chase, One of the all time great one day innings by Maxwell. was a man possessed and
great support by . An innings to remember for a long long time . 🎃— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag)
Congratulations to Team Austr🧜alia on an extraordinary victory! Unbelievable innings from !
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074)
Holly smokes. Just woke up & checked the results. Missed an unbelievable run chase lead🌸 by the beat 🦄against spin . However Cummins 12 off 68 is just as good! I know what I will be doing tomorrow, watching the replay!!!
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93)
This was a Big show 👌 Take a bow
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath)
Warrior Mentality 💪
Physically down buಞt mentally at an all time high! Maxi, you little beast. 🙌
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets)
Simply UNBELIEVABLE ⚡
Maxwell has pulled off the biggest heist! 🔥— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal)
What a player ✊🏼👏
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar)
Glenn Maxwell reminded us tonight about thꦜe intrinsic beauty, unpredictability and inspiring drama of this wonderful game. Thank you👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
Massive Massive Massive respect for Mᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚaxii. 🎃🫡🙇♂️ Absolutely unbelievable. 💚!!!
— Sandeep Lamichhane (@Sandeep25)
It was an honor witnessing this mental & physical genius of .
Its one of all time great ODI innings.— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph)
Got to be one of the greatest ODI innings ever …. 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7)
Some match winning innings are such that♕ you just stand up and applaud. An inning to remember for🌜 lifetime by Maxwell 👏 👏
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Maxwell is not from this planet
Thats it thats the tweet— Imad Wasim (@simadwasim)
This is easily the best ODI innings꧅ I have🗹 seen recently take a bow
— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive)
Maxwellꦕ has maxed it. What an inni💜ngs congratulations on a stupendous century
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd)
Maxwell's place in history just got guaranteed. It has to be the greatest white ball innings played
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)