Marvelous Glenn
Maxwell stars in stunning win as Australia seal semis berth
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran started well and was not taking a risk,
after their Captain won the toss and opted to bat first, but in the 8th
over off the innings Josh Hazelwood traps Rahmanullah Gurbaz 21 of 25 who gave
easy catch to Mitchell Starc at deep square leg boundary.
Then, Hashmatullah Shahidi build the partnership off 83 runs with Rahmat shah but
then, in the 25th over Rahmat shah (30 off 44) came down the ground
against Glenn Maxwell and just managed to found the fielder (Josh Hazelwood) at
Long off complete an easy catch to dismissed him.
After, that
dismissal of Rahmat shah, Hashmatullah shahidi came to bat and then, both Zadran
and Shahidi started playing defensively and also the credit goes to the Aussie
Bowlers, who can’t allow them to play freely.
In the 38th
over of the innings, Mitchell Starc bowled yorker which made a mess of the
stumps.
On the other
end, Ibrahim Zadran was playing his knock and Azmatullah Omarzai started
playing aggressively but he had not been able to changed his innings into the
big one’s and give his wicket to Adam Zampa he scored 22 of 18. Then, Mohammad
Nabi departs after scoring 10 off 12.
At that
moment Afghanistan was not looking to post a solid total at score board but, once
again Rashid khan show his hard hitting ability and also, Ibrahim Zadran wrote
a history became the first batter from Afghanistan to scored a century in ICC
Cricket World Cup and after scored a century he hits quick fire 28 off 12 and returned
unbeaten on 129 off 143 helped Afghanistan post a defendable total on the score
board 291 after losing 5 wickets.
Josh
Hazelwood was pick of the bowler from Australia (9 overs 39 for 2), Zampa,
Maxwell and Starc also has taken one wicket each but Starc goes little bit expensive
(9 overs 70 for 1).
In the chase of the target, Australia were not started well . Naveen ul haq
removed explosive opener Travis head(0 off 2) on the second ball of the innings,
who was caught behind the stumps by Ikram Alikhil. After that Mitchell Marsh
came and playing his strokes and looking very dangerous for Afghanistan but
once again Naveen get’s him plumb in front of stump and he had to walked back
to the pavilion after scoring 24 off 11 balls.
Australia
were looking pressurize and David Warner too, he decided to gave charged and
missed the line of ball and had to walked back. Then, on the very next delivery
Azmat gets another wicket as he dismissed Josh Inglis with the help of Ibrahim Zadran who took catch in the slip
position. He also, missed his well deserved hat trick when Glenn Maxwell just
managed to edge the ball otherwise, he was bowled or LBW.
Australia was looking to build partnership but suddenly Marnus got run out,
when Rahmat Shah’s direct hit worked for Afghanistan. Afghanistan’s bowler’s were not allowing any Australian batsman to
settle down on the pitch and at that moment Marcus Stoinis had opted to be
brave and goes for reverse sweep against Rashid khan and missed the line of the
delivery and had to to depart. Then, there was Mitchell Starc who was hunted by
Rashid Khan.
But who knows
! that storm had to come there in the shape of Glenn Maxwell innings.
The man
fought for his team like an injured fighter along side his captain Pat Cummins who
negotiating the balls and showing patience. Glenn Maxwell playing the innings
with just sixes and fours mostly because he can’t run due to injury which happens
to him in the middle of the innings.
He had taken the score from 91-7 to 293-7 in which he contribute 201 runs on
128 balls in which he hits 21 fours and 10 sixes, When he comes to bat the team
was in crisis 49-4 and he continued from their and he ends after getting Australia
over the victory rope.
He was
adjudged player of the match for his innings.
His thoughts
‘‘It
was hot while fielding today, I haven't done a lot of exercise in the heat, it
got a hold on me today. I wanted to stay back and get some movement (on my
legs). Not too much (when asked about plans at 92/7), just stick to the batting
plans as much as possible, for me, still be positive, still look to play my
shots, that LBW, it was going just above (the stumps), probably that made me be
more proactive. A hint of swing and nip (off the surface), as it happens here
under lights, they bowled beautifully to exploit that. It would have been nice
if it was a chanceless knock, but I had my chances, to make the most of it
tonight was something I can be proud of. Amazing, after the first two games,
people were quick to write us off. The belief was always there (as a team),
after today, it would have gone a bit higher.’’
Also,
He Became first non-opener batter to score a double ton. (came at no 6 to bat)
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