New Delhi: The cricketing world has run out of adjectives lauding Australian batsman Glen Maxwell’s phenomenal double ton against Afghanistan in a World Cup league match Tuesday which not only rescued his team from impending defeat but also saw it through to the semifinals.
Former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting struggled to describe Maxwell’s feat on the ICC show Digital Daily, saying an innings like that can “create unbelievable belief that you can win from anywhere”. “It is hard to put into words… Tonight is something we are going to be talking about for a very long time,” Ponting added.
Maxwell came in to bat when Australia were teetering at 91/7 in their chase against 292 set up by Afghanistan, with the help of some wiley bowling by Rashid Khan, Naveen-ul-Haw and Azmatullah Omarzai.
The right-handed batsman came in to face a hat-trick ball, but despite cramps later in the innings, he dug in to score a record-breaking 201 off 128 balls, filled with 21 fours and 10 sixes.
His partnership with captain Pat Cummins, who stuck around with a dogged 12 off 68 balls, created a new 8th-wicket partnership off 202 runs.
What made Maxwell’s innings more special was that it marked the first double century in an ODI run chase, and is now recognised as the fastest double hundred in World Cup history.
A gushing Cummins called the stint “the greatest ODI innings” in the post-match press conference, adding, “We’re just chatting about it, all the players… and we’ve decided it’s one of those days where you just go, I was there in the stadium the day Glenn Maxwell chased down that total by himself.”
Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar too had high praise for Maxwell, dubbing him the game-changer for Australia. He posted on micro-blogging site X: “A wonderful knock by @IZadran18 to put Afghanistan in a good position. They started well in the 2nd half and played good cricket for 70 overs but the last 25 overs from @Gmaxi_32 was more than enough to change their fortune. From Max pressure to Max performance! This has been the best ODI knock I’ve seen in my life.”
Batting first, Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran made history scoring the first century for his country in a World Cup match – an unbeaten 129 runs. Rashid Khan’s quick 35 off 18 balls added to Afghanistan’s strong total of 291.
In response, Australia began shakily losing its top and middle order within the first 25 overs before Maxwell sauntered in. There was no stopping the batter after he was dropped by Mujeeb ur Rahman at 33.
After coming in for some flak for bowling the wrong line to Maxwell – who was struggling when Australia were more than 50 runs from victory – Afghanistan captain Hasmatullah Shahidi said he was “very disappointed” the way things ultimately turned around for the rivals.
He said: “Cricket is a funny game, it was unbelievable for us. We were in the game, our bowlers started very well and the dropped chances hurt us. After that, Maxwell didn’t stop, he played every kind of shot and I give credit to him.”
“I think the dropped catches were the key, after that Maxwell played really well. Our bowlers tried their best but he didn’t give us any chance,” Shahidi added.
Maxwell’s exceptional performance took the internet by storm, with cricket legends, former players, and contemporary stars all joining in to praise his outstanding display.
Former Australian wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist said on X: “Congratulations @Gmaxi_32 Clearly the best ODI innings ever. Has always been the most exciting player in the world to watch in my opinion.”
A name synonymous with clutch-run chases, England Test Captain Ben Stokes could only muster, “My goodness Maxi”, while 2011’s man of the tournament Yuvraj Singh called the innings that of his lifetime.
Maxwell’s wife, Vini Raman, who is of Indian descent, expressed her delight on an Instagram story – drawing a line through the number 100 to highlight the record-breaking feat of 201 not out.
Maxwell’s incredible performance set the following records:
* Australia saw its first ODI double century, only the 11th in 50-over cricket. Maxwell’s 201* outshone Shane Watson’s 185* against Bangladesh in 2011.
* In ODI run-chases, Maxwell’s 201* is the highest individual score, surpassing Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman, who scored 193 against South Africa in 2021.
* Maxwell’s double century is now the highest score by a non-opener in ODI cricket, surpassing Charles Coventry’s 194 against Bangladesh in 2009.
-* In ODI Cricket World Cups, Maxwell’s 201* is just the third double hundred, with Chris Gayle (215 against Zimbabwe in 2015 for West Indies) and Martin Guptill (237 against West Indies in 2015 for New Zealand) being the other two.
* The partnership of 202 runs between Maxwell and captain Pat Cummins (12*) is the highest for the seventh wicket or lower in ODIs, beating England’s Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid’s 177-run partnership against New Zealand in 2015.
* Maxwell’s double-century came in just 128 deliveries, making it the second-fastest double-century in ODIs. India’s Ishan Kishan holds the record for the fastest double century in just 126 balls against Bangladesh last year.
After the match, Maxwell said he had the option to go back to the pavilion when he was cramping, but chose to stay on in order to keep his legs in motion.
“Terrific. I’m stoked,” Maxwell said when asked how he felt physically after the draining knock. “Obviously, it was quite hot when we were fielding. I didn’t do much high-intensity training in the heat and it got to me. It was good to stick out till the end,” he added.
The cricketer also said he was trying to be positive and take the Afghans on. “If I had defended all the way, I would have lost my wicket. That lbw call as well… and I decided to go after the bowling,” he said, adding it was amazing to reach the semis though people were quick to write off the team after their initial defeats.
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