“Was that the greatest one-day innings ever? Australia’s Captain Pat Cummins, who watched Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten 201-run innings from the non-striker’s end, is certainly convinced.
Chasing 292 runs against Afghanistan in Mumbai, Australia was struggling at 91/7 and appeared to be heading for a loss when Maxwell played an innings that Ricky Ponting described as “unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” Combining finesse and brute force, Maxwell found the groove amidst the pressure, hitting sixes and guiding Australia to the semi-finals.
Cummins, after taking three wickets for Australia, quipped in the post-match presentation, “I mean, absolutely hilarious. I don’t know how you describe it.” “Fantastic win, but Maxi is out of this world.
“This will be the greatest one-day innings ever. We were just talking, and I think this is one of those days where you go, ‘Yeah, when that happened, I was at the stadium.’ And we feel very lucky to be here.”
Where does this innings rank for Maxwell?
Maxwell said, “It would have been nice if it was a World Cup final innings.” “I definitely had my chances. I’ve lived a pretty charmed life there, and I feel like I’ve probably played innings like this before, where I haven’t capitalized as much as I could have. So, to make the most of it and move forward tonight, it’s probably the most satisfying thing. To do it with Patty [Pat Cummins] at the other end is something I’m genuinely proud of.”
Cummins shared an unbeaten 202-run partnership with Maxwell, contributing just 12 runs in it. “Couldn’t get a word in!” Cummins said with a smile. Did he have something to say to Maxwell in between? Australia’s captain replied, “I genuinely let Maxi do his thing. I mean, how do you talk to someone who’s playing like that?
“He was outstanding. He was calm. Whenever you’re chasing a target, he always has a plan. Even when we were 200 runs behind, he showed me the way to win the game, and that was something special. The champ [Zampa] was on, and Cummins said, “He had to go out about three times, but Maxi wanted to stay there.”
This win not only secured Australia’s spot in the semi-finals but also served as a reminder of what the team is capable of, especially when they aim to win the World Cup.
Reflecting on the win, Cummins said, “I think it was significant.” “Not only does our team think you can win from anywhere, but I think the opposition also takes notice… When you start planning your 50 overs, you might use your bowlers a bit differently. You have to.
“The real belief [in the team] and, you know, now we’re obviously in the semi-finals. It’s great.”
Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi expressed his disappointment and regret at losing the opportunity but had only words of admiration for Maxwell. Shahidi said, “I’m very disappointed. Cricket is a funny game, and it was unbelievable for us.” “We were in the game, our bowlers started brilliantly, and missed chances cost us. After that, Maxwell didn’t stop; he played every kind of shot, and I can credit him for that.
“I think those dropped catches were crucial, and then Maxwell played really well. We’re proud of the team, but we’ll be disappointed tonight. We didn’t think it would turn out this way, part of the game. This is cricket. We’ll try to make a strong comeback against South Africa.”