Mumbai is a metropolis of goals. Many have made it massive on this Millenium City. However, it has additionally witnessed many goals getting crushed. Afghanistan, sadly, skilled the latter. Not many Afghanistan gamers and followers will have the ability to neglect the night time of November 7, 2023. They will certainly not neglect Glenn Maxwell, even when they neglect this match. On this Tuesday night time in Mumbai, Maxwell stood between Afghanistan and win on one leg. No, he didn’t lose a limb. But he nearly did.
Chasing 292 to win, you anticipate Aussies to get to this goal simply. But Afghanistan haven’t been pushovers this World Cup. They have hardly ever been pushovers up to now few ICC tournaments. The Afghans had Australians beneath the mat on 91 for 7. That is when Pat Cummins joined Glenn Maxwell within the center. You would anticipate the match to be over quickly. But Cummins bought in and grinded on. At the opposite finish, Maxwell had began hitting boundaries, nearly one per over.
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Afghanistan haven’t been able earlier than the place they’d five-time World Champions Australia beneath a lot stress. That’s the issue. They do not know that the nice outdated Aussies know come again from any precarious state of affairs. Maxwell begins to open his arms.
Bang, bang, slam, slam. Runs begin pouring in and the assumption rises in Australian camp. They nonetheless have not moved from their respectie locations within the dressing room as this occurs on the sphere. They float in hope, however in addition they sink a little bit within the tought of defeat. They are equally joyful and nervous. Maxwell’s wicket might convey an finish to this wrestle. And then, the worst occurs. Maxwell completes a loopy hundred and goes down on the bottom. He is injured. He is in ache. He has pulled his hamstring. But he’s nonetheless very a lot loopy. He is mad sufficient to rise once more. He is mad sufficient to indicate how nice he’s.
We witnessed magic __#CWC23 #AUSvAFG pic.twitter.com/qehOMbHufq
— ICC (@ICC) November 7, 2023
Maxwell will get up and begins taking part in, actually, on one-and-a-half legs. Cummins is a mere spectator on the different finish. He is nearly non-existent. Eventually, within the 202-run stand for the eighth wicket, he’ll contribute with solely 12 runs. But the Australian captain doesn’t thoughts. His solely tactical transfer is to remain quiet and be a spectator, like so many on the beautiful Wankhede within the metropolis of goals.
While Maxwell retains taking Australia in the direction of the goal on his personal, he additionally continues to lose energy in his different leg, which was already right down to half after his ton. His again leg is nearly immovable. As he takes a run, he hobbles. When he hobbes, the nice Ian Smith within the commentary field calls it a ‘Charlie Chaplin stroll’ within the center. Maxwell, even when half-fit, manages to get comparisons drawn with some nice figures.
After 43 overs, the situation of the again leg is even worse. You sense a wicket is coming. Maxwell could possibly be out any second. But I’m sorry to inform you, Afghan followers, he doesn’t get out. He doesn’t get out and he doesn’t lose his will. Ian Smith returns with one other mind-blowing line to clarify the situation. He says, “He’s got nothing but hands and will.” It was terrific to see two greats at work as you consumed this match. One within the commentary, one on the bottom.
From over quantity 44, what occurs in entrance of your eyes, even when on tv units, is out of this world. You have by no means seen these things earlier than as an immovable Maxwell sweeps, reverse-sweeps, pulls, scoops and heaves with out transferring his again leg. It is an act of bravery, and it’s an act towards science. This knock is revolutionary because it tears aside the cricket textbooks. The will takes on methodology. The will wins.
Maxwell had a golden bat, no matter he hit went both for 4 or six.
pic.twitter.com/tL2nOjge3x
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) November 7, 2023
Maxwell slams SIX, SIX, FOUR, SIX towards Mujeeb to get to his maiden double hundred, within the forty seventh over, as Australia clinch a win with over 3 overs to spare.
The Afghanistan dressing room is distraught. They want a shoulder to cry on. But somebody quickly would inform them, they’ve been nice too. That they’ve been courageous too. But as you see them in tears, you keep in mind Shahid Afridi’s phrases from 2016: “Jab cricket rulati hai, bahut rulati hai” (When cricket hurts, it hurts quite a bit).
Maxwell raises his bat and acknowledges the Wankhede crowd, which is true on its ft, in awe. In absolute awe. This acknowledgement can also be proof that he was there for actual. That he certainly batted with only one leg. He raised his bat to inform town of goals, this was not, in any case, a dream. That this knock occurred for actual.
Maxwell then sighs with reduction. The others don’t. They can’t. This is one for the ages.
