Glenn Maxwell, Australia’s batting all-rounder, hit an astonishing 201* off 128 balls to lead his team to a memorable come-from-behind victory over Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup match on Tuesday. While Glenn Maxwell stole the show with his magnificent knock, Australian skipper Pat Cummins played the perfect foil, holding one end up by blocking deliveries and not giving up his wicket.
Australia were 91/7 in the 19th over of their World Cup match against Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, chasing 292 runs. Glenn Maxwell and Cummins (12* off 68) scored an unbroken 202 runs for the ninth wicket to help Australia win by three wickets. The victory also ensured the five-time champions’ berth in the tournament’s semi-finals.
While Glenn Maxwell smashed 21 fours and 10 sixes in his incredible innings, Cummins only hit one four and concluded with a strike rate of 17.65. What was most important was that he did not squander his wicket.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) praised Cummins’ underappreciated role to Australia’s epic victory by uploading a video of his performance in which he is shown defending deliveries with a straight bat, allowing Glenn Maxwell to swing his bat freely at the other end.
The footage was posted on ICC’s Instagram account with the caption:
“Every Batman needs a Robin ????.”
Australia’s victory on Tuesday was their sixth consecutive victory in the 2023 World Cup, following defeats to India and South Africa.
Glenn Maxwell’s 201* is the best ODI innings ever, says Pat Cummins
Following the historic victory, Australian captain Pat Cummins poured accolades on Maxwell. He went on to call the aggressive batter’s knock against Afghanistan the “greatest ODI innings ever.”
“I mean, just ridiculous. I don’t know how you describe this. Great win but Maxy was out of this world. It’s got to be the greatest ODI innings that’s ever happened. We were just chatting and I think it’s just one of those days where you go, yep when that happened; I was here at the stadium. And we feel very lucky to be here.”
Pat Cummins
Cummins said of his fantastic collaboration with the “Big Show”:
“Couldn’t get strike! [smiles]. You let Maxy actually do his thing. I mean, how am I going say anything to someone who’s playing like that.”
Pat Cummins
Australia’s last league match in the 2023 World Cup will be against Bangladesh on November 11 in Pune.