Sensational Maxwell 201* leads Australia to semi-finals

Australia 293 for 7 (Maxwell 201*, Rashid 2-44) beat Afghanistan 291 for 5 (Zadran 129*, Rashid 35*, Hazlewood 2-39) by three wickets

Mumbai: Glenn Maxwell battled through injury to hit a sensational double century against Afghanistan and guide Australia into the World Cup semi-finals.

Maxwell arrived at the crease to face a hat-trick ball after Australia slumped to 91-7 in pursuit of 292 in Mumbai.

He was dropped twice and struggled with a back injury and cramp but played a remarkable innings, often on one leg post century, to finish 201 not out.

He shared 202 with Pat Cummins (12*) as Australia won with 19 balls to spare.

Afghanistan, who had earlier made 291-5 with Ibrahim Zadran hitting their first World Cup century, were well set to join Australia in the current top four after a rampant start in the field before Maxwell produced one of the all-time great innings.

He had already hit the fastest World Cup century earlier in the tournament against the Netherlands and returned to the Australia side for this game after missing Saturday's win over England because of a concussion sustained after falling off the back of a golf buggy.

It was a truly breathtaking innings, with remarkable reverse sweeps for six, flicks and whips over the leg side on one leg, which will also be remembered as an incredible show of grit and determination.

He is the first Australian to hit a double century in a one-day international and was mobbed by his ecstatic team-mates, who could barely believe what they had seen.

The win sees Australia join India and South Africa in the final four.

One of New Zealand, Pakistan and Afghanistan will claim the final knockout spot - all three sides are currently on eight points - with the group stage finishing on Sunday.