Australia vs Afghanistan Highlights: Maxwell hits double century, drives Australia to beat AFG by 3 wickets

Australia vs Afghanistan Highlights: AUS vs AFG, Chasing a target of 292 runs, Australia lost seven wickets in quick succession, but Glenn Maxwell's unbeaten and unbelievable double century led Australia defeat Afghanistan by 3 wickets in the ongoing ICC World Cup match at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on 7 November. 

Batting second, the five-time world champions lost wickets of Travis Head (0), Davis Warner(18), Mitchell Marsh (24), Marnus Labuschagne (14), Josh Inglis (0), Marcus Stoinis (6) and Mitchell Starc (3) to Afghanistan bowlers in quick succession.

But Glenn Maxwell (201*) held his ground well and kept maintaining the run-rate by hitting boundaries and SIXES, despite facing issues with leg sprain. He even scored a double century in just 128 balls (twenty one 4s and ten 6s) and became the first Australian to do so in an ODI.

Supporting him on the other side was skipper Pat Cummins, who remained unbeaten, scoring just 12 runs in 68 balls, but didn't let any more wickets to go in Afghanistan's hands.

In the 47th over, Maxwell decided to finish of the game, as Australia needed 21 runs from 4 overs. Maxwell hit consecutive HUGE SIXes on the second and third deliveries. Following this, he has sent the fourth ball for FOUR and again sends the ball for a SIX. This not only led to Australia's win, but Maxwell too hit his double century.

For Afghanistan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan picked two wickets each.

Glenn Maxwell also became the 'Player of the Match'. 

With this win, Australia now have 12 points in 8 matches, with a Net Run-Rate of (+)0.398 and are seated at the third position behind India and South Africa.

While, Afghanistan slipped to 6th position with 8 points and a NRR of (-)0.338.

Earlier, Ibrahim Zadran became the first Afghanistan batter to score a World Cup hundred and guided his team to 291 for five against Australia. Zadran carried his bat through the innings and finished on 129 not out off 143 balls.

The 21-year-old opener faced 131 balls, including seven fours, for what was his fifth one-day international century in 27 games.

He got to the landmark with a dicey single off fast bowler Josh Hazlewood that turned into two after a throw at the stumps was off target.

 The fast bowling pair of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood started the proceedings for Aussies.

Opting to bat after winning the toss, Afghanistan lost opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a 25-ball 21 but Zadran and Rahmat Shah stitched 83 runs for the second wicket to lay a good foundation before the latter was dismissed by Glenn Maxwell for a 44-ball 30 in the 25th over with the score reading 121.

The Aussies have made a great comeback in the tournament after being crushed by India and South Africa in their opening two ICC World Cup 2023 matches.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, have had a dream run at this year's Cricket World Cup and currently sit 6th on the ICC World Cup points table with 8 points from their 7 matches so far.

Australia are third in the standings with 10 points from seven games. The five-time champions need one win to confirm its last-four spot from its remaining games against Afghanistan and Bangladesh on Nov. 11.

Afghanistan is sixth in the table with four wins from seven games. Its eight points have come from stunning wins over England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Netherlands. It needs to win both its remaining games against Australia and South Africa on Nov. 10 to be assured a place in the semifinals.

Australia and Afghanistan Playing XI today: 

Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil(w), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Naveen-ul-Haq

Australia vs Afghanistan: Head-to-head records

These two have played 3 ODIs against each other so far. All the matches went in favour of the Aussies. The last time these two faced off was in June 2019 (World Cup), when Australia won by 7 wickets.

Australia have played against Afghanistan in 2 matches in World Cups so far and won both. In 2015, Australia beat Afghanistan by 275 runs. The Afghans know that they have a completely-different squad now and are quite capable of giving Australia a run for their money.

Australia vs Afghanistan: Highlights

1. Australia strikes as Hazlewood gets the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz who is caught by Mitchell Starc at the deep backward square leg region.

2.Josh Hazlewood takes the catch and Rahmat Shah departs off the bowling of Maxwell.

3. Mitchell Starc strikes as they get Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi clean bowled by a beautiful yorker.

4. Azmatullah Omarzai, big hitting eventually became his undoing as the batter was caught at long-off off the bowling of Adam Zampa in the 43rd over.

5.Cameos from Mohammed Nabi (12 from 10) and Rashid Khan (35* from 18) helped Afghanistan finish strong.

Australia batting:

1. Naveen-ul-Haq bowls the second over for Afghanistan and dismisses Travis Head for DUCK on the second delivery.
2.  On the fourth delivery of 6th over, Naveen-ul-Haq departs Marsh (24).
3.  Azmatullah Omarzai continues his attack and dismisses David Warner on the first delivery of 9th over.
4.  After dismissing David Warner on the first delivery, Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed Josh Inglis for a golden duck on the second delivery.
5.  Australia complete 50 runs in 8.5 overs (53 balls)
6.  Soon after taking the ball, Rashid dismisses Labuschagne (14) via a RUN OUT on the first delivery of 15th over.
7.  After dismissing Labuschagne (14), Rashid takes the wicket of Stoinis on the 4th delivery of 17th over.
8.  Rashid Khan dismisses Mitchell Starc (3) on the 3rd delivery of 19th over. 
9.  Australia reaches 100 runs mark in 20.1 overs (121 balls)
10.  Glenn Maxwell completes 50 off 51 balls (7 x 4)
11.  8th Wicket partnership of 50 runs comes up in 52 balls (Glenn Maxwell 37, Patt Cummins 7) 
12.  Australia complete 150 runs in 28.1 overs (169 balls)
13.  Century for Glenn Maxwell in just 76 balls. This is his second century in this World Cup.
14.  8th Wicket partnership of 100 runs comes up in 89 balls (GJ Maxwell 86, PJ Cummins 8)
15.  Australia complete 200 runs in 34.6 overs (210 balls)
16.  Glenn Maxwell completes 150 off 104 balls (17 x 4, 5 x 6)
17. 8th Wicket partnership of 150 runs comes up in 138 balls (GJ Maxwell 129, PJ Cummins 11)
18.  Australia complete 250 runs in 43.3 overs (261 balls)
19.  Glenn Maxwell completes 200 off 128 balls (21 x 4, 10 x 6), the first Australian batter to do so in ODI.
20. 8th Wicket partnership of 200 runs comes up in 170 balls (GJ Maxwell 179, PJ Cummins 12)
21.  Australia defeat Afghanistan by 3 wickets with 19 balls remaining.