Glenn Maxwell teaches Afghanistan a lesson that they will never forget

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ICC CWC 2023: Glenn Maxwell teaches Afghanistan a lesson that they will never forget

The Luck, the Night and the Pitch, everything was in favor of Australia’s Glenn Maxwell yesterday at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. There wasn’t anything that Maxi could have done wrong against an Afghani side which came with a belief to register only their 5th ICC Cricket World Cup match.

At one point in fact it did look like Afghanistan are going away with a famous win at Mumbai but that’s when things took an unexpected twist. Australia were 91-7 by the 19th over and the Kangaroos looked well on course to experience one of their most embarrassing losses until the “Big Show” showed up.

Honestly, Afghanistan could have had the last laugh well before Maxwell started his destruction. In 22nd over’s 2nd ball, Noor Ahmed struck the pads of Maxwell as he tried to defend the ball down. It looked close, really close, but the only doubt was whether the ball went down the leg or was a little uppish.

The umpire signalled out but Glenn Maxwell was always going to review it. Mid way through the DRS, Mawell looked certain to be out as he himself was walking out before seeing the ball going way above the stumps in the Jumbo screen.

That review brought life back to the Australian dugout, but what happened a ball later was a lesson for Afghanistan, highlighting the need for improvement in their fielding. In the 4th ball, Noor successfully trapped Maxwell to play the sweep shot towards short fine leg where Mujeeb Ur Rahman was waiting for a catch.

However, it was that moment when Mujeeb lost his cool and dropped a sitter when Maxwell was on 33 off 38. That was Afghanistan’s last chance to get him off the crease which they thwarted and the 35-year-old later on made them realize that they should have snapped on that chance.

From the 25th over onwards, it was all about Glenn Maxwell and his incredible power hitting ability. It took him 51 balls to score an half century but needed only 25 more to complete his 100, playing shots over deep mid wicket, mid on and covers.

It was raining boundaries at Wankhede and it reached a point when Maxwell did not even have to move his feet. In simple words, no use of Footwork (as he suffered a cramp). It was as if seeing Chris Gayle playing as a right hander. Doesn’t matter who the bowler was, the Big Show was just timing the ball and smacking it out of the park.

His best shot of the day was a reverse sweep sixer off pacer Azmatullah Omarzai. His 150 was completed in 104 balls. And Australia’s victory was sealed with a six that helped Maxwell score his maiden ODI double hundred off 128 balls. It included 21 Fours and 10 Sixes with a strike rate of 157.

Maxwell’s 201* took the entire shine off Ibrahim Zadran‘s 129* which was the first ever century by an Afghanistan batter in ICC ODI World cup. With that victory, Australia have qualified for the Semi-finals for the 3rd straight CWC edition.

And for Afghanistan, there is still a lot to improve but what a tournament they have had. Much better than England’s nonetheless.

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