• Australia registered a thrilling win over Afghanistan in the 39th match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023.

  • Glenn Maxwell played a sensational knock of 201 runs off 128 deliveries to steer Australia to victory.

Cricket world bows down to Glenn Maxwell’s breathtaking double ton as he leads Australia to thrilling victory over Afghanistan – ODI World Cup 2023
Cricket World bows down to Glenn Maxwell's breathtaking double ton (Image Source: Twitter)

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The 39th match of the ODI World Cup 2023 between Australia and Afghanistan provided cricket fans around the world with an unforgettable and thrilling contest. In enthralling encounter, Glenn Maxwell emerged 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-pounding 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 wickets, ensuring 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:

 

Also READ: Michael Atherton, Harbhajan Singh and other cricket icons slam Shakib Al Hasan over Angelo Mathews’ timed-out dismissal

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.