Maxwell spins Aussies to much-needed win over India

Steve Barrett | September 28, 2023

Comeback king Glenn Maxwell has made a stunning return to competitive cricket, spinning Australia to a drought-breaking 66-run win over India in the third one-day international at Rajkot.

After missing more than six months of international cricket due to a flare-up with his previously-broken leg and the birth of his son, Maxwell marked his return by capturing a career-best 4-40 to help restrict India to 286 in reply to Australia’s massive 7-352 on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).

Australia’s victory at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium snapped their five-match losing streak and gave their World Cup preparations a much-needed boost while denying India a 3-0 series sweep.

India’s returning big guns Rohit Sharma (81) and Virat Kohli (56) both fell to Maxwell, who looms as one of Australia’s World Cup gamebreakers, for both his explosive batting and his underrated spin bowling in subcontinent conditions.

Rohit looked in particularly imperious touch in his first hit of the series, blasting six sixes and looking on track for his 31st ODI ton before succumbing to Maxwell’s magic.

India’s captain crunched a bullet back to Maxwell, who shut his eyes, stuck out his right hand and remained in a state of disbelief when the catch somehow stuck.

Maxwell, who dismissed makeshift opener Washington Sundar (18) in his first over, continued his dream second spell when the great Kohli top-edged a pull to Steve Smith.

The Victorian allrounder remained in the thick of the action, pouching an easy catch to send Suriyakumar Yadav (8) packing before ending India’s hopes when he bowled Shreyas Iyer (48).

Earlier, Mitch Marsh (96) and Smith (74) batted superbly despite both suffering physically in the oppressive mid-afternoon heat and humidity, while Marnus Labuschagne (72) boosted his chances of earning a last-minute World Cup call-up.

Marsh, who was unable to field due to the heat exhaustion he suffered while batting, required water to be brought out every over towards the end of his gutsy knock, which ended when he bunted a Kuldeep Yadav wrong ‘un to Prasidh at cover.

As Marsh walked slowly off the ground, a weary Smith was guzzling drinks while sporting ice packs on his head and the back of his neck, sitting in a plastic chair brought out to the middle.

David Warner (56) fell in the 50s for the third time in as many hits, before Labuschagne gave the selectors food for thought with an enterprising knock.

Paceman Jasprit Bumrah (3-81) and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (2-48), both appearing for the first time this series, shared the bulk of the spoils.