An injured Glenn Maxwell scored 201 not out off 128 balls to guide Australia to victory; Ibrahim Zadran recorded Afghanistan’s first century at a World Cup; Watch England vs Netherlands on Wednesday from 8am forward of the primary ball at 8.30am, reside on Sky Sports Cricket

Glenn Maxwell’s heroics led Australia into the semi-finals after finishing their highest run chase in a Cricket World Cup match to beat Afghanistan by three wickets in Mumbai.

Australia slumped to 91-7 chasing Afghanistan’s seemingly imposing 291-5 however an injured Maxwell dragged his aspect to victory after nursing varied cramps on area with a valiant 201 not out off 128 balls, after he was dropped on 33.

His spectacular one-leg cameo included 21 fours and 10 sixes as he recorded Australia’s highest particular person ODI rating and have become solely the third participant to make a World Cup double century.

Earlier, Afghanistan additionally placed on a powerful efficiency with Ibrahim Zadran hitting a elegant 129 not out to make historical past by turning into his nation’s first batter to attain a century in a World Cup.

Afghanistan’s onslaught continued with the ball after they eliminated Travis Head (0), Mitchell Marsh (24) David Warner (18) all inside the powerplay.

However, their seamers and spinners struggled to take away Maxwell and Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins, who shared an unbeaten 202-run stand. It was Australia’s highest eight-wicket partnership, breaking the document of of 119 between Shane Warne and Paul Reiffel.

Australia qualify for the semi-finals transferring into third place, whereas Afghanistan stay sixth.

Magical Maxwell steals the present

Maxwell was dropped on 33 at quick fantastic leg by Mujeeb Ur Rahman within the twenty second over, which was simply one of many many pricey errors Afghanistan made within the area.

The 35-year-old, who was dominated out with concussion for his aspect’s win towards England on Saturday after falling off a golf buggy final week, rescued his aspect in probably the most unbelievable vogue. He raced to his half-century off 51 balls earlier than motoring to a 76-ball century with Cummins serving to to consolidate the innings on the different finish.

Maxwell was visibly whimpering on the sector and acquired therapy for his again within the thirty eighth over earlier than he fell to the bottom together with his legs cramping within the fortieth over. Adam Zampa was on the boundary edge prepared to exchange the Australian star, however he hobbled again to take guard with Australia needing 47 extra runs from 48 balls.

The field workplace efficiency continued with a newfound braveness because the historic victory was in sight.

Cummins stored Maxwell on strike by defending the ball and he repaid the skipper by flogging Mujeeb for six, six, 4 and 6 within the last over, hitting the successful runs and claiming one of many best Australia victories in ODI cricket.

When Travis Head nicked behind to Ikram Alikhil and was dismissed for nought within the second over, there was a sense Afghanistan would possibly trigger one other World Cup upset. The nerves trickled via the remainder of the highest order which noticed them skittled for 91-7 by the nineteenth over.

Mitchell Marsh (24) was trapped lbw by Naveen (2-47) and Azmatullah (2-52) took back-to-back wickets that noticed Warner (18) bowled and Inglis edge to Zadran at second slip.

Afghanistan have by no means taken a hat-trick in a World Cup earlier than and the chance to create one other historic second was offered to Azmatullah. He caught the sting of Maxwell’s bat when he was on two, however the ball did not carry to the wicketkeeper.

Labuschagne (14) was run out by Rahmanullah Gurbaz after he was late to set off for a single and put in a determined dive, however his bat was raised when the bails lit up bringing an finish to his outing.

Rashid had Marcus Stoinis (six) trapped lbw after he tried a reverse sweep shot after which a terrific juggling catch from wicketkeeper Ikram noticed the top of Mitchell Starc (three). However, the assessment later confirmed Starc didn’t hit the ball.

Afghanistan’s efforts in useless

Zadran reached his half-century off 61 balls, his sixth in ODI and second within the World Cup, earlier than he motored to a historic 101 off 131 deliveries.

Australia’s bowlers toiled laborious for his or her wickets in humid circumstances with the primary breakthrough coming solely within the eighth over when Josh Hazlewood (2-39) had Rahmanullah Gurbaz (21) caught at deep sq. leg.

It was 17 overs later Australia’s subsequent wicket got here when Maxwell (1-55) had Rahmat Shah (30) caught at long-off bringing an finish to the 83-run partnership with Zadran.

Zadran continued to anchor the innings, sharing a 52-run stand with Hashmatullah Shahidi (26) however the Afghanistan skipper turned Starc’s one and solely sufferer with a full size supply clattering into his stumps as he tried to play a sweep shot, leaving Afghanistan 173-3.

Adam Zampa (1-58) was rewarded with a wicket after he toiled laborious for 10 overs and finally had Azmatullah (22) caught at long-off by Maxwell. Hazlewood splattered Mohammad Nabi’s (22) stumps to wash up the tail after he tried to heave him into the leg-side however missed.

Australia’s bowlers weren’t in a position to put a cease to a late cameo by Rashid Khan and Zadran as their explosive unbeaten partnership added 58 runs dragging Afghanistan from a modest 233-5 to what appeared like an imposing 291-5.

Cummins: The best ODI innings to ever occur

Australia captain Pat Cummins:

“Maxi was just ridiculous. I don’t know how he did it, he was out of this world. It has to be the greatest ODI innings that has ever happened.

“When he’s chasing, he at all times has a plan so even from 200 behind, he was nonetheless mapping out a method to win the sport.”

Maxwell: I feel terrific

Player of the Match, Glenn Maxwell:

“I really feel terrific!

“The plan was to stick to our batting plans as much as we possibly could. For me it was still trying to be positive, still trying to take them on, punish bad balls and others I could score off.”

Shahidi: We are very disillusioned

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi:

“We are very disappointed, it was unbelievable for us. Our bowlers started very well but the dropped chances cost us.

“We will do our greatest to try to take into consideration the following recreation and are available again robust towards South Africa on Friday.”

What’s next?

England take on the Netherlands on Wednesday in Pune with coverage from 8am ahead of the first ball at 8.30am on Sky Sports Cricket.

The defending champions are out of the World Cup but can still qualify for the Champions Trophy if they finish in the top seven.

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