NEW DELHI: Afghanistan could not have imagined losing the game after reducing five-time champions Australia to 91/7 after putting up a challening 291/5 on the board, but Glenn Maxwell had other ideas.
Battling cramps while batting at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, Maxwell scripted an unthinkable comeback from a precarious situation to hit a 128-ball 201 not out as the Aussies not just chased down the target for a three-wicket win and a place in the semi-finals, but also had 3.1 overs to spare.
It was an unbroken 202-run partnership with skipper Pat Cummins, who had the best seat in the house while scoring 12* off 68 balls and allowing Maxwell to do all the damage.
In his knock of 201*, Maxwell hit 21 fours and 10 sixes, as 144 of his runs came in boundaries; and he became the only batter with a double century in the list of top 10 knocks in a successful run-chase in ODIs.
Here's the list:
With this win, Australia have joined India and South Africa in the semi-finals, with just one spot available now, which is closely contested between Pakistan, New Zealand and Afghanistan.
