Cricket World Cup: Australia def Afghanistan, Glenn Maxwell double century in record chase highlights

Glenn Maxwell has pulled off one of the most remarkable rescue missions in World Cup history, overcoming crippling full-body cramp to plunder a double century and spearhead a record chase.

Glenn Maxwell and Australian physio Nick Jones discussed whether Maxwell should retire hurt as he dealt with debilitating cramp on the way to what would ultimately be the highest ODI score ever by an Australian man.

Maxwell’s 201 not out from 128 balls carried the Aussies to an extraordinary three-wicket win over Afghanistan on Tuesday night, a result that booked Australia’s spot in the World Cup semi-finals.

The Aussies will face South Africa in a semi-final but only after their final league stage match against Bangladesh in Pune on Saturday.

The Victorian put on 202 in an unbeaten eighth-wicket stand with captain Pat Cummins, who contributed just 12 in the partnership.

But Maxwell began to labour around the time he reached triple figures, eventually going down in a screaming heap on 147 with 55 runs still needed to win.

Glenn Maxwell receives medical attention as Match Umpire Alex Wharf looks on. Picture: Getty

Jones headed into the middle to treat Maxwell, while No.10 batter Adam Zampa was about to make his way onto the ground to replace the all-rounder.

“It was a strange one because I was cramping in one of my toes, which was sort of going up the front of my shin. And then as I sort of set off to try and get down the other I cramped in that calf as well,” Maxwell said.

“So I was cramping both sides of my lower leg. And as I went ‘oh no, I’m cramping,’ I cramped in my left hamstring at the same time. So I was like, ‘I’ve got both legs.’ And then I had a back spasm when I hit the ground.

“So I was just like full body just in pain. But once I sort of calmed my breathing down, and I had the physio out there and he sort of talked me through it, what it was going to be like.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell (2L) speaks with the Australian team physio. Picture: AFP

“I had one person pushing my foot, one person lifting my leg. It was strange, I’ve never been in a position where I’ve had full body cramps like that.

“I sort of felt it coming on a few hours before that. I was just hoping that I could sort of get through. And once we stayed at the same end for a couple of overs, I felt like I was starting to get a little bit of movement back. But that actually probably made the whole job a little bit more simple. I wasn’t sort of overthinking the situation. I just knew if I got a ball that I could hit on try and hit it.”

Maxwell had discussions about whether he would need to retire hurt from the match. Picture: AFP

Maxwell confirmed that he and Jones spoke about whether it was better to retire before eventually choosing to stay in the middle.

“It was certainly in our discussions,” Maxwell said.

“We talked about coming off, trying to get some work into my back and trying to loosen up my legs a little bit. Jonesy the physio said it would be really hard for me to come back down the stairs after that.

“It probably made the job a bit more simple. We just came up with ‘let’s stay at the same end’ for as long as you can until you feel like you can walk to the other end or if there’s an easy single here and there.

“If I could get one or two boundaries from one end, it didn’t really matter what happened at the other end. We got it to around a run-a-ball at that stage. There was certainly planning, it wasn’t all just chaotic swinging.”

Maxwell plays a shot during his audacious innings. Picture: AFP

At one point Maxwell was waddling down the pitch for singles, which he likened to an infamous moment in Australian sporting history.

“There was one where Rashid (Khan) tried to stop it with his foot and it trickled to long on and I thought ‘I can get to the other end here’,” Maxwell said.

“I felt if I could keep my legs nice and straight I could get to the other end. Someone said it was a bit like walking like Jane Saville, doing the 40k walk or whatever it might be.

“We had those couple of overs where we both stayed at the same end for a little bit and it just gave me enough of a refresher, I was getting enough drinks in between overs, it felt like they were taking a bit of time in between overs.

“It didn’t feel like we were holding up the game too much. There’s always that risk as well.”

Maxwell put on an extraordinary matchwinning 202-run partnership with captain Pat Cummins. Picture: AFP

It has been an extraordinary fortnight for Maxwell, who posted the fastest century in World Cup history against the Netherlands two weeks ago before being concussed when falling off the back of a golf cart last week, leading to him missing the win over England.

“It’s been a busy couple of weeks, all since my family arrived,” Maxwell said.

“It’s been a weird couple of weeks, but extremely grateful I suppose to be able to get back out here and make the semis.

“After the first two games we were pretty close to written off by most people, and to be able to string six wins together at the right time, and we didn’t have our best stuff tonight, against a pretty spirited opposition, so to be in the semis is a great feeling and hopefully we enjoy a few days in Pune and I’ll stay away from the golf carts.”

With the win, Maxwell steered Australia into the semi-finals. Picture: AFP

‘THE GREATEST INNINGS EVER’

Glenn Maxwell has produced what Pat Cummins described as “probably the greatest ODI innings ever” to pull off a miraculous win that secured Australia a World Cup semi-final berth.

Maxwell overcame debilitating full body cramps that almost forced him to retire hurt en route to 201 not out from 128 balls as he and Cummins put on an unbeaten 202 for the eighth-wicket to clinch victory over Afghanistan with 19 balls to spare on Tuesday night at the Wankhede Stadium.

The Victorian smacked 21 fours and 10 sixes in what was the first ever men’s ODI double century for Australia and the first time anyone had scored a double century in a men’s ODI run chase.

Australia was 7-91 chasing 292 for victory when Maxwell and Cummins came together in the 19th over.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell celebrates after one of the greatest World Cup innings of all time. Picture: Getty

Cummins batted more than two hours for his 12 from 68 balls featuring just one boundary but hung around long enough for Maxwell to complete the heist in what was the highest eighth-wicket partnership in men’s ODI history.

Maxwell was forced to stand and deliver in the latter part of his innings but continued to pulverise the Afghan bowling even after having intense physio treatment in the middle of the ground after seizing up.

He had been dropped on 24 and 33 and needed DRS to overturn an lbw decision on 27, at which point victory seemed out of the question.

The win means Australia joins India and South Africa as certain semi-finalists.

Cummins revealed post-match that he thought Maxwell was going to need to head off during his innings, such were his struggles.

Next batter Adam Zampa even made his way to the boundary line at one point only to be sent back as Maxwell continued under duress.

Maxwell (bottom) is helped by his captain Pat Cummins (R) as he battles cramp. Picture: AFP

EARLIER: AUSTRALIA EMBROILED IN LOW-CATCH CONTROVERSY

Australia became embroiled in another low catch controversy while opener Ibrahim Zadran became the first Afghanistan batter to make a World Cup century as the upstarts forced their way to 5-291 on Tuesday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Afghanistan played to its strengths, opting for control over aggression in a bid to set the Aussies a defendable target.

The upshot was an attritional afternoon at the Wankhede, with boundaries and wickets both in short supply.

A team built in the image of coach Jonathan Trott was content to prod at the Aussie sweepers for much of the innings. It was a far cry from the general direction of white-ball cricket over the decade and much more in line with approaches in vogue during the 1990s.

No player exemplified the method better than Zadran, whose ton will not form the basis of many highlight compilation videos.

Having reached his half-century off 62 balls in the 18th over, Zadran actually slowed down for his second 50, which took 69 balls and with the addition of just one four.

Stuck on 99 for two balls from the miserly Josh Hazlewood, Zadran scampered to triple figures and would have been caught short had Pat Cummins’ shy from cover been a direct hit.

Still, it was history for Afghanistan, who finally had a batter reach the milestone deep into the side’s third visit to the World Cup. It was also the first time an Afghanistan batter made a ton against Australia, from a sample size of four one-day internationals.

A historic century for Ibrahim Zadran. Picture: Getty Images

Unburdened by the hunt for a ton, Zadran unleashed the shackles the following over, whacking Adam Zampa over deep midwicket for six.

Zadran was the rock of his side’s innings and featured in several useful partnerships including an 83-run second-wicket stand with Rahmat Shah (30).

With wickets in hand, Afghanistan exploded late, as Rashid Khan squirted and slogged in the dying overs.

Rashid survived a chance on 17 when Marcus Stoinis lunged for a low grab at deep cover off Mitchell Starc in the 48th over. Stoinis indicated that he wasn’t certain if he’d taken the catch, with the third umpire unwilling to categorically declare the all-rounder was in control of the ball before it hit the ground.

Marcus Stoinis attempts in vain to take a catch to dismiss Rashid Khan. Picture: Getty Images

The near miss proved costly as Rashid upped the ante to finish 35 not out from 18 balls alongside Zadran who batted out the innings for 129 from 143 deliveries.

Starc was again thrashed to all corners, finishing with 1-70 from nine overs to continue his poor tournament with the ball.

The Aussies left out Steve Smith amid his vertigo issues. Cameron Green was also omitted as Glenn Maxwell and Mitch Marsh returned after missing the win over England in Ahmedabad on Saturday.

Afghanistan picked a spin-heavy attack for a wicket which Australian captain Pat Cummins said he would have also batted first.

David Warner and the Aussies have a big job at hand. Picture: AFP

11:18PM AUSSIES BATTERED IN FINAL OVERS

Afghanistan piled on 75 runs in the final six overs of the match as Rashid Khan put Australia to the sword after surviving a low catch controversy. Marcus Stoinis looked to have caught Khan on 17 runs, but further replays cast doubt on the wicket and the umpire ruled the ball hit the ground. Khan went on to reach 35 runs including three boundaries (two sixes) in the final over. Australia need 291 runs to win, which would be a record chase for them at a World Cup.

10:42PM HISTORY FOR IBRAHIM ZADRAN AND AFGHANISTAN

Ibrahim Zadran has scored the first ever century for Afghanistan at a World Cup. A quick single to reach the ton almost turned into a run out, then overthrows resulted in an extra run for Afghanistan and Ibrahim. With five overs to go now and 225 runs on the board, a competitive total is certainly on the cards for Australia to chase.

10:12PM STARC STRIKES AS THIRD WICKET FALLS

Australia have claimed just their third wicket in just over 200 balls, but have managed to limit Afghanistan’s run rate to below five an over. Hashmatullah Shahidi (26 from 43 balls) just couldn’t get going and was bowled by Mitch Starc. Afghanistan still have the wickets in hand to push towards a total of 280 but will need to get moving.

9:15PM AUSSIES FINALLY GET A BREAKTHROUGH

It’s taken some time but Australia have finally claimed another wicket, with Glenn Maxwell getting the breakthrough as Hazlewood caught Shah (30 runs) at long-off. Hashmatullah Shahidi is the next man in for Afghanistan, who are now 2-122 after 25 overs. Afghanistan have been cruising along nicely, but are yet to really get the ball rolling and will need the run rate to lift in the second half of this innings to put the pressure on Australia.

8:54PM ‘WAYWARD’ AUSSIE ATTACK STRUGGLING

Afghanistan are continuing to cruise along nicely, and the scoring has picked up despite the loss of a wicket, with Ibrahim notching up his 50, as he builds a solid partnership with Rahmat Shah. Hazlewood may have claimed the wicket of Gurbaz earlier, but the Aussies again are struggling to crack the opposition, exemplified by one over from Starc with a whopping four wides. Afghanistan are 1-99 after 20 overs.

Josh Hazlewood celebrates the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Picture: Getty Images

8:06PM AUSSIES CLAIM FIRST WICKET

Australia have thrown away a review early, with Pat Cummins sending one upstairs, hoping for an edge from Ibrahim Zadran. However, the breakthrough came just two balls later, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz caught by Starc off a Hazlewood delivery. Afghanistan are 1-38 after 8 overs.

7:55PM AFGHANISTAN CRUISING

Afghanistan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are looking comfortable out there, with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood struggling to really apply any pressure to in the power play so far. Afghanistan are 0-30 after 6 overs.

7:03PM THE TOSS

Afghanistan has won the toss and elected to bat first on a dry looking pitch in Mumbai in 37 degree heat. Australian captain Pat Cummins revealed he also would have opted to bat first had they won the toss.

Interestingly Afghanistan has won their last three games in a row when chasing, but have opted to send the Aussies out first.

TEAM NEWS

Steve Smith has been left out of Australia’s XI for its clash with Afghanistan amid a vertigo battle.

Glenn Maxwell has been cleared following his concussion last week and will return to the XI along with Mitch Marsh, who is back from his trip back to Perth on compassionate grounds.

It means Marcus Stoinis and Marnus Labuschagne hold their spots.

Cameron Green has been omitted as expected.

Smith batted for an extended period before play on Tuesday but ultimately wasn’t right to take his place.

Marnus Labuschagne was left out of Australia’s 18-man World Cup squad and yet today will be his 16th straight ODI since then. He is averaging 49.5 in that period, keeping his spot with the following help:

- Steve Smith’s wrist injury

- Cameron Green’s concussion

- Travis Head’s broken hand

- Ashton Agar’s calf issue

- Marcus Stoinis’ calf niggle

- Glenn Maxwell’s golf cart concussion

- Steve Smith’s vertigo

Afghanistan have made one change, with Naveen-ul-Haq in for Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: Australia def Afghanistan, Glenn Maxwell double century in record chase highlights