AUS VS AFG MATCH 39

Right then, that's all from this unbelievable game where we saw one of, if not the greatest, ODI innings from Glenn Maxwell. Australia have become the third team to book a place in the semi-finals, and now the race amongst other teams will be for that remaining final spot. The action in the 2023 ODI World Cup continues on Wednesday, November 8 when England take on the Netherlands in Pune. The first ball will be bowled at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT), but our build-up will begin much sooner. Until then, take care and goodbye!

The skipper of Australia, Pat Cummins says that he has no words to describe this win. He says that Glenn Maxwell was just great. He was calm and he always had a plan as they were almost 200 behind and managed to win it from there. Says that Maxwell just wanted to stay and he proved that the game can be won from anywhere. Adds that it feels good to be in the semi-finals. Ends by saying that the toss is a bit tricky and the first 20 overs were the key.

Afghanistan's skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi says that they are very much disappointed and cricket is certainly a funny game. Adds that Glenn Maxwell was incredible in the kind of shows he played. He says that the drop catch was the key point and after that he gave no chance to their bowlers. Reckons that the team will be disappointed but its a part of the game and they will come back stronger in their next game against South Africa. Ends by saying that he is proud of Ibrahim Zadran that he is the first player to get a ton in the World Cup.

Glenn Maxwell is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his inexplicable knock of 201 runs from 128 balls. He says that it was hot while fielding and it was a good match. He says he was positive and thought that putting some pressure would help the innings. Mentions that the overturned LBW call was his wake-up call. Shares that the ball was nipping around and was gripping well for spinners. He adds that he is proud of the team for playing well and to come back and win 6 in a row is a great effort.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, after Hashmatullah Shahidi called it right and opted to put runs on the board, it was a watchful start from the two Afghan openers. Rahmanullah Gurbaz departed early, but his opening partner, Ibrahim Zadran, stood firm and forged partnerships, first with Rahmat Shah and then with Hashmatullah Shahidi. In the middle phase, they were not able to accelerate in a fashion they would have liked but did not lose their way either by losing a flurry of wickets. Ibrahim carried on and became the first batter to score a hundred for Afghanistan in ODI World Cups. He accelerated after reaching his milestone and found good support from Rashid Khan, who was at his explosive best. Both remained unbeaten and powered Afghanistan to their highest-ever World Cup total of 291. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers with a couple of wickets while Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa accounted for a wicket each.

Having finished strongly with the bat, Afghanistan certainly took that momentum into their bowling effort. Brought into the side for this game, Naveen-ul-Haq created an instant impact with a wicket in his first over. Hashmatullah Shahidi quickly understood the help the pacers were getting and brought on pace from both ends. It worked like a charm as Azmatullah Omarzai and Naveen-ul-Haq combined together to put Australia in all sorts of trouble. Rashid Khan then struck off successive overs and at that stage, Afghanistan had victory in their sights. However, complacency crept in and the error by Mujeeb Ur Rahman to drop Glenn Maxwell when he was on 33, did not do them any favours. As Glenn Maxwell began his onslaught, the Afghan bowlers lost their lines and lengths and they soon ran out of options to get rid of him. Hashmatullah Shahidi kept ringing in changes but they simply had no answers to the brilliance of Glenn Maxwell. Afghanistan will be right now feeling that cricket is a cruel game but they will have to pick themselves up quickly to have a shot at making it to the semis.

In their pursuit of 292, Australia were rocked early as they lost Travis Head for a duck. Mitchell Marsh and David Warner tried to be proactive and lost their wicket in the process. It soon went from bad to worse for Australia as a late response from Marnus Labuschange led to him being caught short of his crease. It was a virtual procession post that and Australia found themselves crumbling at 91-7. Glenn Maxwell then began the rescue act with skipper Pat Cummins with the former doing the heavy lifting during the partnership. Maxwell targetted the slower bowlers and by doing so, he was able to find boundaries at will on his way to his second hundred of this World Cup. He soon began to struggle with cramps and batted the second half of his innings with one leg. As a result, ones and twos became hard to come by but Maxwell held his composure throughout to find boundaries every now and then. Even though Pat Cummins contributed just 12 runs in the 202-run stand, he was more than an able alley. Glenn Maxwell soon went into overdrive and there was no stopping him as he unleashed his way to a double hundred to get Australia over the line out of nowhere. This is now the highest-ever score for a batter while chasing in ODIs and the highest individual score for Australia in ODI cricket.

GLENN MAXWELL HAS PULLED OFF A HEIST FOR AUSTRALIA! A knock for the ages from the 'Big Show' has helped Australia rise from the ashes to seal a spot in the semi-final of the ODI World Cup. At 91-7, Australia looked dead and buried but Glenn Maxwell stepped up to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. As for Afghanistan, it will be a bitter pill to swallow and they have been handed a defeat that is bound to give them sleepless nights.

SIX! UNBELIEVABLE! ASTONISHING! This has been an incredible run chase and Glenn Maxwell deserves all the credit for it. Mujeeb Ur Rahman goes a bit full and on off. Glenn Maxwell lofts it in the air and he gets a clean hold of it. The ball clears the fence and goes into the stands. What a shot, what an innings and what a partnership. The Australian dressing room goes bonkers, the crowd is standing on its feet, and Maxwell has his arms raised in triumph - a double century for him, the first man to do it while chasing in this format! Take a bow! Australia win by 3 wickets and have nailed their spot in the semis.

FOUR MORE! Mujeeb Ur Rahman with another short ball outside off. Glenn Maxwell just reaches for it and hits it in the gap perfectly for four more runs. One shot away from a win and a double century.

SIX! AGAIN! Mujeeb Ur Rahman drops it short and outside off. Glenn Maxwell stands tall and slaps it with a flat bat sending the ball over long on for another maximum.

SIX! Gets it this time! Mujeeb Ur Rahman goes fuller and on off. Glenn Maxwell gets underneath it and muscles it over deep mid-wicket and into the stands for a biggie.

Short and over off. Glenn Maxwell pulls hard but misses the perfect connection.

Good batting! Rashid Khan goes full and on off. Glenn Maxwell flicks it away to deep mid-wicket for a single as Glenn Maxwell will keep strike next over. A good spell from Rashid Khan.

Floated up on leg. Glenn Maxwell flicks it away to the fielder at mid-wicket.

Very full on the toes. Glenn Maxwell pushes it to the right of Rashid Khan.