AFG vs ENG: Afghanistan Stuns England, Secures First Win as Umarzai and Zadran Shine
In a thrilling encounter at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Afghanistan secured their first victory of the tournament by defeating England by eight runs. Led by Rashid Khan, Afghanistan won the toss, opted to bat first, and posted a competitive total of 325/7 in 50 overs. In response, England fell short, getting all out for 317 in 49.5 overs.
Afghanistan Knocks England Out of the Tournament
Ibrahim Zadran’s brilliant century and Azmatullah Umarzai’s lethal bowling played a crucial role in Afghanistan’s triumph, effectively eliminating England from the tournament. Jos Buttler’s team, already struggling after a five-wicket loss to Australia, now finds itself out of contention. England’s next match against South Africa in Karachi on March 1 will only serve as a formality. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has kept their qualification hopes alive, moving to third place in Group B with two points and a net run rate of -0.990. They are set to face Australia in their third match on Friday.
Afghanistan’s History of Defeating England
This isn’t the first time Afghanistan has bested England in an ICC tournament. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan stunned England at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, setting a target of 285 runs. With Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 80-run innings, Afghanistan secured a resounding 69-run victory as England crumbled at 215 all out.
Umarzai and Afghanistan’s Bowlers Dominate
Despite England’s determined chase, Afghanistan’s bowlers proved too strong. Azmatullah Umarzai made an early impact, dismissing Phil Salt for 19. Mohammad Nabi then removed Jamie Smith for just nine runs, while Rashid Khan trapped Ben Duckett (38) LBW.
Root’s Lone Resistance
Joe Root was England’s standout performer, scoring a magnificent 120 off 111 balls, including 11 fours and a six. However, his efforts weren’t enough as other batters faltered. Harry Brook contributed 25, Jos Buttler 38, Liam Livingstone 10, Jamie Overton 32, Jofra Archer 14, Adil Rashid 5, and Mark Wood remained unbeaten on 2. For Afghanistan, Umarzai starred with the ball, while Nabi took two wickets, and Fazalhaq Farooqui, Rashid Khan, and Gulbadin Naib claimed one wicket each.
Archer’s Early Strikes and Zadran’s Historic Knock
Afghanistan’s innings was initially rocked by Jofra Archer, who picked up three quick wickets. However, Ibrahim Zadran, in a record-breaking innings, steadied the ship alongside captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. Their 103-run partnership for the fourth wicket brought Afghanistan back into the game. Zadran’s stunning 177-run knock off 146 balls, featuring 12 fours and six sixes, became the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history.
Other valuable contributions came from Azmatullah Omarzai (41), Shahidi (40), and Mohammad Nabi (40 off 24). Meanwhile, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6), Sediqullah Atal (4), and Rahmat Shah (4) fell cheaply. England’s bowlers saw Archer claim three wickets, while Livingstone took two, and Overton and Rashid managed one each.
A Match to Remember
Afghanistan’s remarkable victory not only keeps them alive in the tournament but also highlights their growing dominance in international cricket. As they gear up for their next challenge against Australia, England is left to reflect on what went wrong in yet another disappointing campaign.
