The word 'epic' gets bandied about quite loosely these days among millenials and Gen-Z folk. But if there ever was a sporting achievement that deserved to be called epic, it was Glenn Maxwell's superhuman knock against a shell-shocked Afghanistan in Mumbai on Tuesday. 'Big Show' Maxwell battled the odds, cramps, dehydration and an inability to even jog to come up with an unfathomable double century (201 off 128 balls; 21 fours, 10 sixes) and take Australia from 91/7 to the most unlikely three-wicket win in the 2023 ODI World Cup. (Highlights | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
Anyone who witnessed the innings live knows that its impact is immeasurable, but even in terms of statistics, it was an effort non pareil. This was the highest-ever score by a non-opener in ODIs, eclipsing Charles Coventry's unbeaten 194 against Bangladesh in Bulawayo in 2009.
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It was also the highest-ever individual score in a run-chase in ODI cricket, surpassing Fakhar Zaman's 193 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2021.
The unbelievable double century was the first by an Australian in ODIs, thus also making it the highest individual score by an Australian in the 50-over format. The previous best was Shane Watson's unbeaten 185 in 2011 against Bangladesh in Mirpur.
Maxwell combined with skipper Pat Cummins, who lent him fantastic support from the other end, for a 202-run partnership. This was the biggest stand for seventh wicket or below in ODIs, comfortably topping the previous best stand of 177 between Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid in 2015, against England in Birmingham.
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The knock was also the second-fastest double hundred in ODIs, narrowly behind India's Ishan Kishan's 126-ball double ton the last year against Bangladesh in Chattogram.
Beyond the records, the knock was the most remarkable display of human resilience and grit you can ever see, and showed why Aussies are known in the sports circles for their never-say-die attitude.
