Australia v Afghanistan: Cricket World Cup 2023 – live | Cricket World Cup 2023

forty fifth over: Australia 267-7 (Maxwell 177, Cummins 11) Target 292. A SEVENTH SIX to start out the over! How many occasions has he performed it from the primary ball of an over?! It’s the dead-still carry, a pick-up shot that usually requires the entire physique to maneuver in sequence however he’s doing this – hitting them 20 rows again – with no footwork and all wrists. Shane Watson, his previous mate, explains that the distinction for Maxwell is core power – Watto the previous pilates nut, you like to listen to it! “I can feel a reverse coming,” says Oracle Ponting – third man is up. Last ball of the over. AND HE GETS THE SINGLE AGAIN! It’s a chip, previous Naveen who dives and practically drags it in! Maxwell hobbles, hobbles right down to the hazard finish and makes it. 25 from 30 wanted.

forty fourth over: Australia 260-7 (Maxwell 170, Cummins 11) Target 292. It’s laborious to fathom how effectively that is working – the standing flick, 4. He can’t transfer! But he can transfer effectively sufficient to get into the reverse of Azmat two balls later OVER THIRD MAN FOR SIX! Azmat practically knocked him over first ball, when he walked in on a hat-trick. It’s scarcely plausible. FOUR MORE from the subsequent! Short sufficient, tempo off, in a position to swing… midwicket had no likelihood! There are nonetheless two balls left within the over, Australia want 33 and Maxwell is 31 away from double ton. AND HE GETS THE SINGLE TO FINISH AS WELL! Afghanistan weren’t on high of it – he walked it, the throw was rogue, that might’ve been a run out likelihood – the bloke can’t run! He’s again on strike – 15 from the over, 32 from 36 wanted. Maxwell is 170 from 113 and this is without doubt one of the greatest innings within the historical past of one-day worldwide cricket.

forty third over: Australia 245-7 (Maxwell 155, Cummins 11) Target 292. Staggering scenes, Cummins does play out the maiden. Whatever it takes to present Maxwell an opportunity to maintain hitting boundaries. The stand is now as much as 154 with Cummins including 11 (66) of these. But with out him, Maxwell isn’t 155 (108) – severe teamwork. Back to Maxi…

MAXWELL TO 150!

forty first over: Australia 237-7 (Maxwell 147, Cummins 11) Target 292. Cummins has no selection however to play out the 4 balls – Maxwell can’t run! What DRAMA at Mumbai. But there’s so lengthy to go – 55 runs wanted, they usually must be all 4s and 6s.

Maxwell hits the deck – cramp! He’s used the primary ball effectively, one other standing-still flick, this break day Noor Ahmad, into a spot for a boundary. Down the bottom for a straightforward single subsequent however he’s hops right down to the hazard finish and instantly goes to floor. This actually is one thing else. Adam Zampa is coming down the steps – he’s not going to retire harm, is he? Might he must? That’s the second time he’s walked down the steps tonight, believing he was in when Maxwell was saved by a persuasive lbw shout – it feels a very long time in the past now. He’s going to proceed!

fortieth over: Australia 232-7 (Maxwell 142, Cummins 11) Target 292. Blimey! Maxwell can’t transfer within the crease however it doesn’t matter. Facing Naveen, standing useless nonetheless, he flicks him over backward sq. for 4 then hammers a straight drive for 4 extra. No footwork with both, all eyes and wrists. Some of essentially the most freakish cricket I’ve ever seen. And the strike will get again to Cummins, who does his bit from the ultimate two balls of the over, the fifty fifth and 56th of his innings, to get the strike again to The Big Show. A partnership of 141 from 129 as we enter the ultimate ten overs with a good run a ball wanted. Cummins the right ally – his 11 in 56 important to all of it.

thirty ninth over: Australia 223-7 (Maxwell 133, Cummins 11) Target 292. First ball SIX! Of course! It’s been the theme of the innings, and with Maxwell’s difficulty (cramp?) inflicting him a lot grief, it is sensible that he’s moved from fours to sixes. But with that sorted straight away, they will play Rashid with the respect he in any other case deserves. Seven from the over and the strike is again with Maxi. 69 from 66 wanted.

thirty eighth over: Australia 216-7 (Maxwell 126, Cummins 11) Target 292. Maxi is battling now, each run is hurting – they’re being slowed down by Naveen’s re-emergence – simply two taken right here, a few yorkers dug out within the course of. Once once more the Australian help workers are on the market, seems to be ingesting a few of that pickle juice in line with the TV comms. Did I hear Haydos proper saying as soon as Maxwell is thru this they usually’re certified then tomorrow relax at ‘Smoko’? I hope that’s proper – and even when I heard it incorrectly (mainly = morning tea), right here’s a banging tune.

thirty seventh over: Australia 214-7 (Maxwell 125, Cummins 11) Target 292. Maxwell is clearly in strife now with that hamstring or decrease again – laborious to inform precisely what, however he’s strolling his singles. But as they arrive collectively on the finish of Rashid’s eighth over, the place three runs have been taken, he’s nonetheless smiling. They convey a drink out for him.

“I’m not necessarily rooting for Australia to pull off the heroic comeback,” writes Beau Dare. “But wouldn’t it be nice if the outcome was in doubt in the 45th over for a change?” Whisper it… this might evolve into the most effective finishes ever.

thirty sixth over: Australia 211-7 (Maxwell 123, Cummins 10) Target 292. WinViz continues to be massive on Afghanistan at 82 per cent however that may’t think about what Maxwell and Cummins are doing… and also you higher imagine it’s going to proceed right here towards Nabi! Creative, inside the road, over his shoulder 4. Next? HUGE over deep midwicket on a lofted sweep – into the gang with ease! How many occasions has he hit consecutive boundaries right here? Loads. Calculated hitting, making use of as a lot strain as he presumably can to unlock any required run fee strain. 11 off as soon as once more. Cummins’ 10 is from 42 balls, Maxwell’s 123 from 89. They’re placed on 121 in 106 – beautiful stuff.

thirty fifth over: Australia 200-7 (Maxwell 112, Cummins 10) Target 292. Naveen, who bowled such a splendid spell a few hours in the past, returns to the assault to try to get this again on observe for Afghanistan. Five singles, not all fairly, however a change in rhythm, which must be good for the fielding workforce at this stage. Even simply Maxwell having to place a helmet on for the primary time for the reason that energy play – shake it up now.

“Afternoon Adam.”Kim Thonger! “I feel obliged to point out that this brave and skilful Afghanistan team hit peak form precisely at the moment my Afghanistan bucket hat arrived courtesy of Amazon. Correlation or causation? I know what I think. Yours overexcitedly. An ex-England supporter.”

Kim has despatched me an image with this electronic mail (I don’t know how you can pop it in) with the hat on and a pair of sun shades, sat in entrance of a packed bookcase. Doing it effectively.

A delay right here with Maxwell stretching out a hamstring. He’s taken a pill. “There is a different universe where Glenn M has been batting at 5/6 in the Australian test side for the last decade,” says Brenden Fawkes. “I wish I was in that one.” Oh, me too.

thirty fourth over: Australia 195-7 (Maxwell 109, Cummins 8) Target 292. Afghanistan flip to Nabi at this late stage – one other bowler who Maxwell is aware of in addition to anybody from years and years of IPL and BBL. And certain sufficient, first ball of the over he’s after him, deploying the reduce to perfection as soon as once more, this time into a spot for 4. Ohhh it’s back-to-back boundaries with a Maxwellian particular, giving the stumps to the bowler and forcing with immaculate timing into a spot from the off-stump line to the duvet rope – that’s a surprising shot, and the 100 stand… they’re placed on 103 with Cummins making 8 of these! Maxwell offers the captain one ball to get by means of and get by means of it he does. He’s confronted 38 balls now and performed a blinder at No9.

Maxwell completes a 3rd World Cup ton!

thirty second over: Australia 183-7 (Maxwell 97, Cummins 8) Target 292. Maxi is overwhelmed by Mujeeb when enjoying defensively early within the over so he goes the opposite method to smash a straight 4 and a HUGE SIX over lengthy on – that’s his largest of the evening! Maxwellball. He’s 96 from 73 with a few balls to go. A carve to deep level is sort of value two however they suppose higher of it with Cummins in a position to knock this on the pinnacle and provides the strike again, and that’s exactly what he does. 11 off the over.

thirty first over: Australia 172-7 (Maxwell 86, Cummins 8) Target 292. Needing simply on a run-a-ball from right here, Shane Watson makes the purpose that they will recreation this to let him do virtually the entire scoring – Cummins simply must maintain enjoying sensible cricket. It’s extremely inconceivable the asking fee will likely be even an element if Maxwell is there for an additional ten overs. Noor is bowling properly right here, in order that they play this cool – three off it. As Athers says on TV, this may be the time to return to tempo to shake issues up a bit.

“I hope it is not slipping away,” laments Krishnamorthy v. “An Australian win after 7 down on a two-digit score would be hard to digest. The permutations (Someone explained to me that Pakistan can still qualify) are head-spinning for me to gauge. I just want the Afghans to proceed.” T

There’ll be loads of these emotions. Nobody other than Australia need Maxi to do that.

thirtieth over: Australia 169-7 (Maxwell 84, Cummins 7) Target 292. Ooooh, what a ball from Mujeeb, an exquisite supply breaking from leg to off, however as a substitute of working into Maxwell’s off stump it clips the surface edge and runs away by means of first slip to the rope – yet one more over that begins with a boundary for him. Three occasions within the over he’s galloping again for 2 after putting and weighting his groundstrokes into the legside – that is all a part of the method of breaking down a fielding workforce. This pair have placed on 78 with Cummins solely needing to get seven of these. 11 off the over.

Over the PA, the bottom announcer is giving it the ‘when I say GLENN, you say MAXWELL’ – he’s all the time been extra in style in India than wherever else…

twenty ninth over: Australia 158-7 (Maxwell 73, Cummins 7) Target 292. Oh pricey… I can’t cease desirous about that Mujeeb drop as Maxi plonks Noor over midwicket for SIX (once more, the primary ball of the over) then does it once more over lengthy on – he hasn’t middled both however doesn’t have to together with his bat velocity and rubber wrists. The required fee has by no means hit 7 an over, down to six.4 now with 21 overs left. Put it this fashion – if Maxwell continues to be batting at over 45, the sport might be completed. If that.

twenty eighth over: Australia 145-7 (Maxwell 60, Cummins 7) Target 292. Afghanistan have so many choices, together with 5 Mujeeb overs, which is uncommon at this stage – he’s typically performed by over 30 or thereabouts. But Maxwell is decided to proceed placing strain on by hitting the primary ball of the over to the boundary and does once more right here for the fifth time (by my depend) by means of additional cowl. With that heavy lifting full, that there’s just one extra run taken doesn’t matter an excessive amount of.

“I’m torn on this,” says Brenden Fawkes in relation to my remark about automating bowled dismissals in video games the place zing balls and expertise. “I’ve seen in grade cricket a batsman have such soft hands that when the ball did roll back (after some outrageous un-luck) and graze the stumps, the bails stayed on. Did the batsman do enough to ‘protect his wicket’ with the softest of hands, or do we take that away because of an usual deviation off of his foot & pitch to bring it back onto the wicket? Although, the bails over the last few years have proven to be too heavy – there has to be a better way, if they want to have lights in them, to bring them back to a more ‘traditional’ weight.”

Fair. My level, normally phrases (an excessive amount of occurring within the recreation to enter depth!) is that the bails are there to start with to assist us determine when the stumps have been hit. They ought to stay, in fact, as a part of the stumps – the sport has advanced to make the stumps marginally larger due to their presence. But I reckon the times of needing bails to return off within the zing period (see examples right here) are past us.

twenty seventh over: Australia 140-7 (Maxwell 55, Cummins 7) Target 292. They’re acquired a little bit of a way going right here when Cummins is on strike, attempting to simply take in as a lot strain as potential – he’s not unhealthy at that. But after Rashid spits a googly up at his thigh pad, the ball to complete turns previous the sting with the Australian captain trying to drive him by means of cowl – it beats the blade and the ‘keeper, running away for four byes. So, that’s drinks with Australia nonetheless in want of 152 runs at 6.6 an over.

Maxwell to 50 from 50 balls

twenty fifth over: Australia 126-7 (Maxwell 46, Cummins 6) Target 292. Cummins isn’t going to do something outlandish towards Rashid, joyful patting him round defensively. 166 from 25 overs – at some stage, Maxwell will love this problem.

“Hi Adam.” Hello, David Hopkins. “I don’t think anyone wants to see the Afghanistan story end in the group stages. Is it too much to ask for Sri Lanka and England to rouse themselves to some sort of competitiveness and give them a hand in the last round of matches?”

If they win this, I reckon they’ll knock South Africa off too and ensure of it.

twenty fourth over: Australia 125-7 (Maxwell 45, Cummins 6) Target 292. Maxwell goes laborious on the first the entire over for the third time in a row, getting it previous the person contained in the ring at midwicket out to the rope. Aaron Finch makes a very good level: Maxwell in beautiful form heading into the elimination stage, supplied they make it (!), is daunting. Especially contemplating he missed England with a concussion.

“I’m conflicted about this match,” says Alistair Connor. “Afghanistan have been the revelation of the Cup, and anyway, as a New Zealander, my second team is always whoever Australia is playing today. So I fervently hope the Afghans win. BUT. If Sri Lanka happen to actually turn up on Thursday, for the first time of the tournament, they could go to the semis at the expense of the Black Caps!”

If Afghanistan win this, and absolutely they do, we now have a really enjoyable week forward of us.

twenty third over: Australia 118-7 (Maxwell 39, Cummins 5) Target 292. It appears like we’ve been going for a number of hours however Australia are solely 23 overs into this shambolic chase. The asking fee, nonetheless, is barely 6.4 and Maxwell will concentrate on that – he clobbers Rashid over cowl in a method he solely can, practically going for six. If anybody can…

twenty second over: Australia 113-7 (Maxwell 34, Cummins 5) Target 292. Oh no! Another DROP – an actual shocker across the nook at brief effective by Mujeeb after Maxwell helped it to him with a miscued sweep. In the center of all that, the lbw let-off and the unhealthy drop, Australia added 12 with a Maxwell reverse sweep and 5 wides.

NOT OUT! Noor has performed every part proper from over the wicket, hitting Maxwell on the knee roll. It prompts Maxwell to start out strolling off believing he was performed – Zampa was heading to the bottom. But ball monitoring has it going over! Smiles all spherical.

IS MAXWELL LBW TO NOOR? Up we go! Maxwell evaluations; given out on subject.

twenty first over: Australia 101-7 (Maxwell 27, Cummins 5) Target 292. Confusion! Dropped catch! Maxwell ought to be caught by Shahidi at mid-off however he momentarily believes Rashid, the bowler, is working again with the flight – the captain doesn’t get to the competition. Rashid is throughout him right here, beating each edges and turning it sq..

twentieth over: Australia 98-7 (Maxwell 24, Cummins 5) Target 292. I’m wondering what Pat Cummins has mentioned to Maxwell when strolling out right here? He’s a intelligent cookie, Captain Pat – he’ll know the larger Net Run Rate image that I referred to earlier than and he’ll recognize the chance of a win from right here is so small. Three off Noor Ahmad, one other high quality spinner from this Afghanistan manufacturing line, and solely 18.

I’m aware by means of this that the broader Afghanistan story is a particularly difficult one. Remember, Australia boycotted a collection towards them solely ten months in the past; the actual fact they’re enjoying this recreation after doing that is noteworthy. On this matter, I’m grateful, as all the time, for Robert Wilson’s ideas.

“Hey,ça va, mon grand? This World Cup has now definitively performed its job. I’m profusely made up for Zadran selecting off a ton towards the Ozzers. Has there ever been a jauntier story than the Afghanistan one, given the circumstances? And given the background of boycotting speak about this workforce.

It’s a vexing query however I had the good luck to spend a while with Afghan refugees in Paris because the Americans pulled out of Kabul (the French have been noble if clumsy on the time, letting as many individuals in as potential, however then giving them care packages consisting completely and mystifyingly of couscous). They have been a spectacular bunch, to a person already planning their difficult return to their nation (the ladies have been notably much less eager). One of them, a well-known painter, recognized for portray extravagantly defiant political avenue murals had this to say about boycotts, sporting, cultural or in any other case.

‘Are you guys mental? The world should do the exact opposite. Invite every voice to speak, everywhere, all the time. Most kids in Afghanistan have smartphones. They know what’s what. And they should see different Afghans exhibiting the world who we’re and even higher what we’re. Nothing is extra revolutionary than that.’

The quote is kosher. He completely modified my thoughts about this (in Afghanistan’s case not less than). Not least as a result of anybody who airily and fluently calls you ‘mental’ of their fourth or fifth language deserves a listening to.”

nineteenth over: Australia 95-7 (Maxwell 22, Cummins 4) Target 292. My oh my… STARC DIDN’T HIT IT! He was confused on the time and TV reveals why: that ball hit the off-stump however not his bat! He walked off with out reviewing so there’s nothing they will do about it now. I began this stint with a rant about specialist third umps however I’ll spare you one other concerning the want for any ball hitting the stumps (the place TV/zing balls are in use) to be given out as a result of, in a roundabout method, it’s the proper consequence.

WICKET! Starc c Ikram Alikhil b Rashid 3 (7) Australia 91-7

NOT OUT! It was floor earlier than boot on the drive. So a lot strain now.

HAS RASHID KHAN TAKEN A FREAK CATCH OFF STARC IN HIS FOLLOW-THROUGH? Bump ball or smashed into his foot? We’re about to search out out.

18th over: Australia 91-6 (Maxwell 22, Starc 3) Target 292. A good time to convey on teenage sensation Noor Ahmad, who was so good towards Pakistan a few weeks in the past – the win that acquired Afghanistan on this mighty roll. Two singles to start right here, the left-arm wristspinner performed watchfully by each veteran Australians.

seventeenth over: Australia 89-6 (Maxwell 21, Starc 2) Target 292. “You can just hear through the stump mics how up Afghanistan are for this,” says Aaron Finch when coming onto commentary. Starc is off the mark with a pair out to level.

WICKET! Stoinis lbw b Rashid 6 (7) Australia 87-6

HAS RASHID TRAPPED STOINIS LBW WHEN REVERSING? He’s given out on the sector – it seems like he’s in loads of hassle. But he has to ship it upstairs. Oh pricey…

sixteenth over: Australia 81-5 (Maxwell 20, Stoinis 1) Target 292. As I mentioned earlier than, Maxwell is aware of Mujeeb effectively, and it reveals with the arrogance he performs him over midwicket then by means of additional cowl – two boundaries, in a row, each hammered. These two have it in them to place loads of strain again on Afghanistan in a short time.

fifteenth over: Australia 73-5 (Maxwell 12, Stoinis 1) Target 292. An enormous unsuitable’un from Rashid to complete his first, which Stoinis is aware of little or no about – an amazing begin from the little champion. Maxwell and Stoinis aren’t within the workforce for that’s the job now. Also, a be aware for Australia’s Net Run Rate. The solely method they will miss the semi-finals is that if they lose each video games and have their NRR destroyed within the course of.

NOT OUT! Ever so near that outdoors edge however not fairly. On to ball-tracking, because the ball did hit the again pad, which is the noise they have been enthusiastic about… and it’s umpire’s name on contact with the stumps! So shut x 2 – Stoinis survives, juuuust.

HAS RASHID KHAN GOT STOINIS CAUGHT BEHIND? Upstairs we go! They’re burned one assessment on the hat-trick ball earlier so this isn’t with out threat however they’ve backed of their No1 bowler, midway by means of his first over. This is a big second.

WICKET! Labuschagne run out Rahmat 14 (28) Australia 69-5

HAS RAHMAT RUN LABUSCHAGNE OUT? This will likely be shut!

14th over: Australia 69-4 (Labuschagne 14, Maxwell 11) Target 292. Mujeeb to Marnus. For totally different causes, two of the extra fascinating gamers within the recreation. Nothing given from both competitor right here; a maiden full. Labuschagne has pulled considered one of these wins off earlier than, towards South Africa a few months in the past when he was drafted into the squad. But on that event, they have been searching 230-odd not 292 and the required fee is up at 6.2, which’ll take some getting.

thirteenth over: Australia 69-4 (Labuschagne 14, Maxwell 11) Target 292. Maxwell clips Azmat away for 4; his first boundary. Eight off it. Fascinating to see how the Victorian performs this. How lengthy till he pushes again? He doesn’t must, and doesn’t have to both – he has the sport to tug it out deep if essential.

“Hello Adam.” Good afternoon, Krishnamorthy V. “Imagine this scenario. Afghanistan qualifies in the top 4, knocks out India in the semis, and wins the WC after humiliating SA in the final. Will be a bigger upset than the 1983 Kapil’s devils.”

It can be, by a way, the largest shock within the historical past of worldwide cricket. But’s filtering it by means of the lens of the place they’ve been and maybe the place they have been coming into this match. From right here, that’s simply 4 wins away. Dream.

“Hi Adam.” Young Abhijato! Lovely to listen to from you. “I hope you’re doing well — it’s been a while! My semester has chugged along and entered its last month of classes too soon, just like this World Cup and its last week of group stage matches. I know people have said this before, but it bears repeating: the stolidity of the Afghans has been remarkable throughout this encounter. In this match as well as their other four victories in the tournament, at no stage have they looked too rushed. The dominance and calm in all their victories so far — potentially including this one — speaks to their meteoric rise. It was more visible in attitude than in results for the past couple of years, but now, they’re bearing the fruit of their success at the biggest stage. Hoping to see them in the semis.”

The greatest praise you’ll be able to pay Afghanistan is that, with six video games to go on this lengthy group stage, they nonetheless in command of their very own future. Get this performed towards Australia, beat South Africa and make the ultimate 4. What a narrative that will be.

twelfth over: Australia 61-4 (Labuschagne 13, Maxwell 4) Target 292. Mujeeb replaces Naveen, who was good. With the ball nonetheless laborious sufficient, he’s going to stay a handful. But because it was with Warner earlier, in Maxwell he has an adversary who is aware of his weapons effectively. Four singles and a quiet over earlier than drinks fits Australia.

eleventh over: Australia 57-4 (Labuschagne 11, Maxwell 2) Target 292. Atherton, Ponting and Watson take over on comms – beautiful, soothing, regular. Can Australia faucet into that and settle issues down within the center? A pulled boundary off hazard man Azmat will assist with that, Labuschagne into place early. He edged a ball earlier within the over, which didn’t fairly make it to the cordon, however with comfortable palms that’s effective.

tenth over: Australia 52-4 (Labuschagne 6, Maxwell 2) Target 292. Alright, Naveen bowling his fifth off the highest, which stands to motive given the best way they’ve the ball has talked on this energy play. After three probing dots to Labuschagne, who must bat for 30 overs and is aware of how you can just do that, they name for the hammer to smash the floor down the place the bowler is touchdown. Oooh, after the delay some extra needle, this time as a result of Rashid was shifting sideways when the bowler was working in – he will get informed off. A single to 3rd man is their lot. Power play full.

Meanwhile, it’s getting a bit ugly within the England camp, studies Ali Martin from Pune.

ninth over: Australia 51-4 (Labuschagne 5, Maxwell 2) Target 292. Right, will we dare breathe? Maxwell has a really totally different function to play tonight and is off the mark with a pair out by means of mid-off, with that angled bat shot he performs so effectively. What an over. What an hour. Azmatullah is a celebrity within the making, imagine me on this.

HE’S HIT IT! NOT OUT! Had it been pad, as they/we thought, it was gone. And how did it not make it by means of to the gloves of the wicketkeeper? SCENES.