On This Day: Australia didn’t become the ODI World Cup 2023 champions just like that. They needed special performances to lift their spirits, especially the way the Aussies started their ODI World Cup 2023 campaign with two back-to-back losses. These two defeats had come against India and South Africa.
The Aussies registered their first win of that fifty-overs tournament versus Sri Lanka, and after that win, Australia never looked back.
The Aussies won nine consecutive ODI matches to lift the ODI World Cup 2023 after theUy lost the matches at the start. Pat Cummins and his men defeated India, who were the favourites to win the finals that was played at Shri Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
But previously in one league match against Afghanistan, the Aussies were all over the place and it took a special and magical innings from Glenn Maxwell to rescue his nation from a reeling position. Afghanistan posted 291 runs in their allotted fifty overs after they won the toss and opted to bat first. Ibrahim Zadran scored an unbeaten 129 runs in that game.
On This Day: Glenn Maxwell Played The Innings Of His Life To Take The Aussies To A Three Wicket Win Over Afghanistan At Wankhede Stadium In Mumbai –
The limited-overs specialist and the spin bowling all-rounder from the Aussie nation became just the third batter to smash a Double Century In ODI World Cup history. Glenn Maxwell was also the only batter to score more than 200 or more runs in last year’s ODI World Cup in 2023.
He got to this feat in the game versus the Afghans at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Maxi single-handedly took the Aussies over the line even when the circumstances favoured Afghanistan more. Maxwell was also awarded the Player of the Match award for his gem of a knock.
Australia was tottering at one stage in a run chase of 292 runs. The Aussies had lost seven wickets for just 91 runs. It felt like the game was over for them. But The Big Show, who was dropped twice, made full use of his chances and single-handedly guided his team home. Maxi and Skipper Cummins shared an unbeaten stand of 202 runs which was the highest partnership for the 7th wicket or below in ODIs.
Maxwell scored an unbeaten 201 runs which is still the highest score by a non-opening batter in fifty overs format. He took just 128 balls to get to this feat and that is the second-fastest double ton in ODI Cricket. His knock was the third-highest individual score in ODI World Cups and the highest score in a run chase of the fifty overs format. This magical innings is remembered even after one year has passed by and it will remain in the memories of many cricket fans forever.
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