Glenn Maxwell scripted history on Tuesday night, smashing a scintillating 201 not-out against Afghanistan to secure a semi-final berth for Australia. Chasing 292, the Aussies were down to 91 for 7 when Maxwell burst into the scene with a miraculous knock. He fought through pain, cramped towards the latter half of the chase but giving up was never an option for him. With 21 boundaries and 10 sixes, Maxwell got an unbeaten 201 – his first double ton in ODIs – ensuring a top-four finish for his team.
The world cricket fraternity bowed down to Maxwell’s heroics, showering endless on the Australian all-rounder. Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar joined the bandwagon, stating that it was a miracle of an innings that he had never seen before.
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Speaking in his latest YouTube video, Akhtar said he has been watching the game for a long time now but has never witnessed such madness before.
“We saw a miracle. His legs and arms weren’t working. Glenn Maxwell vs Afghanistan. It was 91 for seven. Then one guy, Glenn Maxwell. There were two dropped catches, he could have gone the first ball. But what an unbelievable innings that he played for Australia. I haven’t seen anything like this. I have been watching cricket for several years, but something like this, pulling it off with nobody behind him. He was just standing there and hitting sixes,” Akhtar said in his video.
The Pakistan pace legend said Maxwell would have opted to retire as he was struggling to bat in the last 10 overs. But the right-hander decided to continue and finished the game successfully.
“Hats off to him. He could have gotten retired hurt or given up, but he didn’t. It was true patriotism that was driving him that somehow Australia needed to get these two points. If they had lost this game, they would have been in big trouble,” said Akhtar
Captain Pat Cummins had no hesitation in rating Maxwell’s magnificent double hundred against Afghanistan as the greatest knock in ODI history. The former played the second fiddle in the mammoth 202-run partnership.
“I mean (all the innings) I’ve ever seen. It’s probably the greatest ODI innings ever. We’re just chatting about it, all the players and we’ve decided it’s one of those days where you just go, ‘I was there in the stadium the day Glenn Maxwell chased down that total by himself’,” Cummins commented on Maxwell’s knock that single-handedly took Australia to the semi-final.
The Australia captain hoped that Maxwell would be able to recover in time to play their last league game against Bangladesh, in Pune on November 11.
“I’m sure, he (Maxwell) will be fine. He was cramping but I think you saw out there how much he loves playing for Australia and do anything to play. So, I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Cummins said.
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