CWC 2023, Match 39, Australia VS Afghanistan
291/5 (Ibrahim Zadran 129*, Rashid Khan 35*, Rahmat Shah 30, Hashmatullah Shahidi 26, Azmatullah Omarzai 22, Ramanullah Gurbaz 21,
Josh Hazelwood 2/39, Adam Zampa 1/59, Glen Maxwell 1/55. Mitchell Starc 1/79)
Australia 293/7 in 46.5 Overs (Glen Maxwell 201*, Mitchel March 24, David Warnar 18, Rashid Khan 2/44, Naveen ul Haq 2/47, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/59)
Australia won by 3 wickets.
Player of the match: Glen Maxwell (201*)
World cricket witnessed an alien coming down from the outer world in the shape of Glen Maxwell playing an exceptional innings of lifetime single handedly won the match for Australia from a certain losing position. Such an innings event cricket generation may not witness more than once in lifetime. Australia chasing a steep target of 292 to win was all at sea tottering at 91/7. Glen Maxwell was not 100% match fit. He was hobbling and could hardly use his feet. But with that handicap playing an extraordinary innings he rewrote a few pages in cricket history scoring the first double century (201*) in world cap and featuring in yet another milestone setting 202 partnerships with Pat Cummins (12*) for the 8th wicket. Credit must also not be taken away from brave Afghans for continuing playing entertaining cricket. Scoring 293/7 chasing Afghan score of 291/5 Australia winning by 3 wickets ‘confirmed its berth to semifinal. Afghanistan with 8 points in 8 matches stays in the hunt for the last semi final berth alongside New Zealand and Pakistan.
Afghanistan as we all know is in a fairy tale run in CWC2023 having already beaten three world champions of the past England, Pakistan, and Sri Lonka. They were well on course for surprising 5-time World Cap champion Australia scoring 291/5 batting first and reducing Australia to 91/7. An alien from outer world descended in the shape of hobbling Glen Maxwell. From a position of no hope, he single handedly using his as a sword dispatched Afghan bowlers all over the park. An innings perhaps will not be seen in one generation he scored unbeaten 201 in only 128 deliveries featured with 21 fours and 10 sixes. His unbroken 202 8th wicket partnership with his captain Pat Cummins (12*) won Australia a win by 3 wickets recovering from ruins. We can not even compare this innings with that of Kapil Dev played in 1983 world against Zimbabwe or Saeed Anwar played against India. It was only one of its kind perhaps not be seen in the present generation again.
Afghanistan won the toss and batted bravely. The 23 years old flamboyant opener Ibrahim Zadran carrying his bat through scored 129 successfully anchoring the innings. If only one of Ramat Shah (30), Hasmatullah Shahidi (26), Azmatullah Omarzai (22) and Ramanullah Gurbaz (21) could stay a bit longer Afghanistan could have scored 330-340. Rashid Khan at later stage scored a breezy unbeaten 35 in 18 deliveries.
Afghan bowlers made their innings of 291/5 bigger and brighter bowling exceptionally well. Australia was looking down the barrel at 91/7. It appeared at that stage that another Afghan fairly tale was in the offing. A person named Glen Maxwell turned the tide producing an innings of the outer world. He was limping and hobbling. Yet using his bat as a sword he stood and delivered. His unbaten innings of 201, single handedly won the match for Australia.
Credit must also not be taken away from Afghanistan. Yes India, Australia, South Africa or even Pakistan may win CWC 2023. But Afghanistan has already made its mark as the Team of World Cup 2023. Commiseration for brave Afghans for making their nation proud.
BDST: 0924 HRS, NOV 08, 2023
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