'Maxwell showed one man can win a game', 'Best ODI knock': Tendulkar, Akram praise Aussie all-rounder

Glenn Maxwell was in inspired form on Tuesday as he battled cramps and fitness issues yet delivered a memorable 201-run knock to propel Australia into the 2023 Cricket World Cup semi-finals. Australia were 49/4, chasing 292, when Maxwell came into bat at the Wankhede Stadium against Afghanistan and soon saw his team reduced to 91/7. From thereon Maxwell forged an unbelievable 202-run partnership with Pat Cummins in which the Aussie captain only scored 12 not out off 68 balls.

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Maxwell naturally did the bulk of the scoring and unleashed some of the craziest shots as he smashed 21 fours and 10 sixes to become the third batter to score a double ton in men’s ODI World Cups as Australia won by three wickets and 3.1 overs to spare.

The incredible knock had every cricket fan in awe including legends of the game who could not stop praising Maxwell. Some of the greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram even dubbed Maxwell’s knock as the best ODI innings of all time.

Tendulkar in his post on X (former Twitter) said, “This has been the best ODI knock I’ve seen in my life.”

A wonderful knock by @IZadran18 to put Afghanistan in a good position. They started well in the 2nd half and played good cricket for 70 overs but the last 25 overs from @Gmaxi_32 was more than enough to change their fortune.

From Max pressure to Max performance! This has been… pic.twitter.com/M1CBulAgKw

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) November 7, 2023

The great Akram, on A Sports, said Maxwell has proved that even one man can win a game for his team.

“Unbelievable, one-man show. The stuff of legends. There is a saying that one guy can’t win you a game, but what an absolute lie. Maxwell showed one man can indeed win a game for his team,” said Akram.

Read: Glenn Maxwell takes batting to a rarefied realm

“There was a need for willpower and he showed that. He was suffering from cramps, and cricketers can tell you how cramps can be painful, but he stood there and battled it out.”

“Maxwell showed he is the best one-day player in the player by smashing 201 off 128. I have played cricket for 20 years and working on it for the same time, but I have never seen such a fighting knock,” he added.

Read: Top 5 moments from AUS vs AFG match

Virender Sehwag, Michael Vaughan and Ben Stokes were blown away by the knock.

Saw this coming. 200 in a run-chase, One of the all time great one day innings by Maxwell. @Gmaxi_32 was a man possessed and
great support by @patcummins30 . An innings to remember for a long long time . #AUSvsAFG https://t.co/ClOM3NdSJf pic.twitter.com/nQ8uNVh1af

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 7, 2023

The GREATEST ODI innings of all time @Gmaxi_32 .. You could say the GREATEST innings of all time .. #CWC2023 #India

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 7, 2023

My goodness Maxi