In the 39th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup, the six-hitting machine of the Australian team Glenn Maxwell stunned everyone by defeating all odds against Afghanistan. He became the first player to score a double century in one-day internationals while chasing.

He scored an unbeaten 201 in 128 balls with the help of 21 fours and 10 sixes. The cricket community was aware of Glenn Maxwell’s amazing six-hitting prowess and his ability to break most records in the sport. They were unaware that the right-hander was unable to accept singles but could easily clear boundaries.

After trailing 91/7 at one point, Australia managed to chase 292, with one member of the partnership scoring 12 off 68 balls and the other literally carrying the team’s weight with an injured back. While batting first, Ibrahim Zadran scored the first-ever century during the World Cup for an Afghan, and Omarzai, Rahmat, and Shahidi provided supporting runs.

Rashid included a last-minute push to give Afghanistan a formidable opponent. In response, Naveen trapped Marsh LBW while Travis Head was out hunting ducks. Omarzai then secured a two-for-two, leaving Australia at 49/4. Maxwell escaped a scare when he emerged in front of a hat-trick ball. 

Then, after a misplayed shot by Shahidi cost him a life, an LBW review favoured him because it was expected that a ball by Noor Ahmad would cross the stumps. The most fortunate breakthrough occurred when Mujeeb mishandled a catch of Maxwell at short fine-leg.

How that drop made the Afghan spinner regret it. With nothing to lose and a sense that this was his day, Maxwell attacked the Afghan bowlers head-on. Maxi had a golden bat today because everything he hit went over the boundary ropes or for four, just like Midas had the golden touch. Maxwell was battling fatigue, cramps, a strained back, and a determined Afghan attack.

He played without any footwork at all, resembling one of those cartoon stick cricket characters. The Afghan bowlers were still without an answer, though. With over three overs remaining, the highest target ever chased down at Wankhede was ultimately reached. Without mentioning Pat Cummins, who held one end up and was still undefeated at 12 off 68 balls, this summary would be incomplete. 

There is not a single individual from the cricketing fraternity who left behind in appreciating this knock. The inning by Glenn Maxwell is a perfect example of how Kapil Dev in 1983 played against Zimbabwe. The inning is remembered as one of the greatest innings in the one-day international.