Facing a daunting situation at 91 for 7, Australia staged a stunning recovery to book their spot in the ODI World Cup semi-finals. Glenn Maxwell delivered a heroic performance despite battling debilitating cramps, scoring 201 off 128 balls and finishing his incredible double-hundred with a six. Pat Cummins provided the necessary stability, grinding out 12 not-out runs from 68 balls to ensure they reached the 292-run mark.
Starting from a challenging position of 91 for 7, Australia produced an incredible comeback to clinch their place in the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup tournament. Despite suffering from cramping, Glenn Maxwell put up an unbelievable effort, scoring 201 runs off 128 deliveries and securing the match with a six to complete his extraordinary double-century. Pat Cummins produced an unbroken 12 runs from 68 balls in pursuit of the target of 292, ultimately helping the team to victory.
The game was an absolute rollercoaster that had every spectator on edge. Afghanistan's bowling attack was superb, leaving Australia reeling with seven wickets down and looking like they were headed for a shock victory. That was until Maxwell took over, playing a blistering innings that single-handedly flipped the script and secured Australia's progression. It was a masterclass in batting and a historic milestone, as the 35-year-old became the first player from Australia to hit a double ton in an ODI.
Maxwell reached a breaking point physically. After grinding out his 147th run—his 35th single of the match—he collapsed on the Wankhede pitch, gripped by intense pain in his hamstring. As his muscles spasmed uncontrollably, he lay on the turf in visible agony. The team's physiotherapist, Nick Jones, tried to stabilize him, warning that if Maxwell left the field now, returning to the game would be nearly impossible.
From the dressing room, Adam Zampa was already heading out, prepared to replace the fallen batsman. But it soon became clear that Maxwell had no intention of leaving. Despite the pain and the collapse, he refused to give up his wicket or walk away.
The game had started strongly for Afghanistan, with Ibrahim Zadran making history as the first player from his country to score a World Cup century. His unbeaten 129, backed by solid hitting from his teammates, set a competitive total of 291/5. However, all that momentum was overshadowed by Maxwell, who dominated the night with his explosive batting.
Reflecting on the ordeal while accepting the Player of the Match trophy, Maxwell admitted he was shocked by the physical toll. He explained that the intense heat during the fielding innings caught up with him, as he wasn't fully acclimated to such high-intensity effort in those temperatures. He revealed they had a strategy to keep him at one end to minimize movement until he recovered, which luckily allowed him to finish the game.