Glenn Maxwell's all-time great ODI double ton seals miracle win for Australia

Glenn Maxwell played the best innings of the 2023 World Cup and possibly the greatest knock in the history of ODI cricket as Australia completed a miraculous three-wicket win over Afghanistan in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Chasing a mammoth target of 292, Australia were on the brink of a heavy defeat as they slumped to 91-7. But from there, Maxwell - who was cramping severely for the latter part of the innings - smashed a devastating double century to secure victory.

Maxwell, who had been dropped earlier in the day, hit an unbelievable 201 not out off 128 balls with 21 fours and 10 sixes to single-handedly win the game and secure qualification for the semi-finals.

Victory seemed a long way away at the start. Australia's batsmen had no clue against the new-ball swing of Naveen ul Haq (2-47) and Azmatullah Omarzai (2-52).

Naveen had Travis Head nibbling at an away swinger while Omarzai castled David Warner with a booming in-swinger. Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis edged Omarzai first ball to slip and Marnus Labuschagne got run out against the run of play.

After Marcus Stoinis was trapped lbw by Rashid Khan and Mitchell Starc caught behind acrobatically off the same bowler, Australia were down in the dumps at 91-7 with Maxwell the last recognised batsman standing, in the company of captain Pat Cummins.

Glenn Maxwell is the first ever batter to score a 200 in a chase in ODIs. INCREDIBLE KNOCK!

But then came the match-defining moment in the 22nd over, bowled by wrist spinner Noor Ahmad. Maxwell first survived an lbw dismissal on review before miscuing a sweep that looped to short fine where Mujeeb ur Rahman dropped the simplest of chances. Two lives in one over was a signal that this was Maxwell's day. And he did not hold back.

He went after