Glenn Maxwell | Player of the Match – It was hot while fielding today, I haven’t done a lot of exercise in the heat, it got a hold on me today. I wanted to stay back and get some movement (on my legs). Not too much (when asked about plans at 92/7), just stick to the batting plans as much as possible, for me, still be positive, still look to play my shots, that LBW, it was going just above (the stumps), probably that made me be more proactive. A hint of swing and nip (off the surface), as it happens here under lights, they bowled beautifully to exploit that. It would have been nice if it was a chanceless knock, but I had my chances, to make the most of it tonight was something I can be proud of. Amazing, after the first two games, people were quick to write us off. The belief was always there (as a team), after today, it would have gone a bit higher.

How do I explain to my future kids that Australia managed to chase 292 after being 91/7 at one stage, while one player in the partnership scored 12 off 68 balls and the other with literally a bad back carried the weight of his team? The day began with Ibrahim Zadran scoring the first ever World Cup century for an Afghan, while Shahidi, Rahmat and Omarzai made supporting contributions. Rashid added a late dash to allow Afghanistan a daunting target. In reply, Travis Head was out for duck and Marsh was trapped LBW by Naveen.

Then Omarzai got two in two to leave Austalia at 49/4. Maxwell came out to face a hat-trick ball and survived a scare.

Then he was given a life by Shahidi who couldn’t reach to a miscued shot and an LBW review went in his favour as a Noor Ahmed ball was anticipated to go over the stumps. The luckiest break though came when Mujeeb dropped a dolly at short fine. How the Afghan spinner was made to rue that drop. Sensing that it was his day and with nothing to lose, Maxwell went hammer and tongs at the Afghan bowlers. Like Midas had the golden touch, Maxi today had a golden bat as everything he hit went either for four or over the boundary ropes.

Maxwell was fighting exhaustion, cramps, a bad back and a motivated Afghan attack. At one stage he was playing with no footwork, just like one of those animated stick cricket characters. But still the Afghan bowlers had no answers. In the end, the highest target ever chased down at Wankhede with more than 3 overs to spare. And this summary cannot be complete without a mention for Pat Cummins who held one end up, remaining not out at 12 off 68 balls. Over to the presentations now.