In a must-win T20 World Cup encounter on Friday, Australia, driven by Glenn Maxwell and his quickfire fifty, were limited to 168 for eight by Afghanistan.
After Australia was sent into bat by Afghanistan, Maxwell scored 54 runs (without being out) off just 32 balls, including six fours and two sixes.
However, Australia’s run pace was maintained by the aggressive strokeplay of David Warner (25 off 18) and Mitchell Marsh (45 off 30), despite the early loss of Cameroon Green.
The hosts were doing well early on, but Warner and Steve Smith both went down in short succession in the sixth over to help push the score down to 52 for 3 at the end of the power play.
Naveen-ul-Haq bowled Warner with an off-cutter as the batsman tried to pull off a spectacular switch shot, and three balls later Smith was given out LBW.
Then, in the 11th over, Marsh top-edged Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1/42) while attempting a slog sweep, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz took a brilliant high catch to dismiss the Australian batter. Australia jumped ahead quickly as the fifth wicket partnership of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis (25 off 21) racked up 53 runs in only 29 balls.
Maxwell’s threatening form continued as he cut, pulled, and lofted the Afghan bowlers over the boundary, but Stoinis’ timing was off. During his 21-ball innings, Stoinis hit only two sixes before he was caught easily by Usman Ghani at backward point off the bowling of Rashid Khan.
Even stand-in skipper Matthew Wade didn’t do much damage, being cleaned up by Fazalhaq Farooqi’s toe-crushing yorker. Australian wickets fell at a rapid rate after a promising start (133 for 4 in 15 overs), as Maxwell struggled to find boundaries.
Maxwell reached fifty off of 29 balls by hitting a four off Farooqi in the penultimate over, and he ended the innings on a high note by hitting a four off the last ball.
Tomorrow, November 5, is former India captain Virat Kohli’s birthday. Glenn Maxwell wished him a happy birthday and told him that he will surely text him on his birthday.
Twitter Reacts:
🐐 wishing another 🐐
— time square 🇮🇳 (@time___square) November 4, 2022
Heheh nice ipl contract
— Vicky (@Msd__stan) November 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/prof_oak123/status/1588498510256955393?s=20&t=5OdxE_CfjGy9YvaZ9Il5kw
Talk about priorities
— Adityahah (@aditya_baru_) November 4, 2022
he knows virat would hurt if someone doesn't text
— pg raaz (@raaz_PG) November 4, 2022
Virat kohli loves person to person Things
— Mohd Qasim (@amqasim_i) November 4, 2022
Besties
— STON.POST (@ston1post) November 4, 2022
Notice how everybody likes to associate with kohli, such humble and loving 🐐
— Raghu Writes (@WritesRaghu) November 4, 2022
#PlayBold ♥️
— 71st ❤️ (@T_W_T_virAAt) November 4, 2022
