Picture : ICC/ X
Gritty Afghanistan held their nerve till the end as they edged out England in a thriller by 8 runs in a Champions Trophy 2025 encounter in Lahore . With their second successive loss England are out of the tournament. Afghanistan stay alive.
Earlier, Afghanistan Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and opted to bat first . At first the Afghan batting struggled and lost wickets too . Opener the experienced Rahmanullah Gurbaz out for ( 6), Sediqullah Atal ( 4) , Rahmat Shah ( 4) . The total was 37/ 3 in 8.5 overs. English Jos Buttler looked happy and in control.
But never to give up Afghanistan bounced back with some crucial knocks Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi led the revival with a timely 40 ( 67 balls, 3 fours).
A knock that went straight into the #ChampionsTrophy record books from Ibrahim Zadran 👏#AFGvENG ✍️: https://t.co/6IQekpiWp0 pic.twitter.com/Y4W8lJxifW
— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2025
However ,as wickets fell around Ibrahim Zadran remained unfazed and looked solid . And solid he was as he smashed the highest ever individual score by a batsman in Champions Trophy history with a breath-taking 177 ( 146 balls, 12 fours, 6 sixes) . A knock that flattened England.
The happy faces show how much that win meant to them 🤩#AFGvENG #ChampionsTrophy ✍️: https://t.co/6IQekpiWp0 pic.twitter.com/oQoqPsoY5S
— ICC (@ICC) February 27, 2025
The English bowling wilted so too their fielding, Buttler looked helpless . Azmatullah Omarzai played a nice cameo 41 ( 31 balls , 1 fours, 3 sixes). The seasoned performer Mohammad Nabi blasted a quick 40 ( 24 balls , 2 fours, 3 sixes) . Gulbadin Naib not out 1 and Rashid Khan not out 1 saw Afghanistan from a dismal 37/ 3 reach an imposing total of 325/ 7 in their 50 overs. A total Buttler would not have imagined. England just lost their way.
England bowling fell apart after initial success : Jofra Archer 3/ 64 ( 10 overs), Mark Wood 0/ 50 ( 8 overs) , Jamie Overton 1/ 72 ( 10 overs),Adil Rashid 1/ 60 ( 10 overs) , Joe Root 0/ 47 ( 7 overs), Liam Livingstone 2/ 28 ( 5 overs)
In reply, England lost opener Philip Salt early for ( 12), centurion in previous match Ben Duckett was out for ( 38) ,Jamie Smith ( 9) , Harry Brook ( 25 ), Skipper Jos Buttler ( 38) all got starts but could not go on to make it big.
Former Skipper Joe Root kept English hopes alive as he held one end solid with his batting but was running out of partners and his energy to sapping towards the end. Nevertheless Root hung on and hit a gallant 120 ( 111 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) . As long as Root was there England had hopes. Moment he fell the game was over. Dangerous Liam Livingstone ( 10) , Jamie Overton 32 ( 28 balls , 3 fours), Jofra Archer ( 14) , Adil Rashid ( 5), Mark Wood not out 2. England falling agonisingly close to be bowled out for 317/ 10 in 49. 5 overs). Afghanistan clinching a thriller by 8 runs.
Nail-biting. Heart-stopping. Edge-of-the-seat. 📸🥵#AFGvENG 📝: https://t.co/f1bPxdp46j#ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/5gf9Kys8di
— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2025
Afghanistan bowling was well backed by energetic fielding : Azmatullah Omarzai was the star with splendid figures 5/ 58 ( 9. 5 overs) ,Fazalhaq Farooqi 1/ 62 ( 10 overs) wily Mohammad Nabi 2/ 57 ( 8 overs) backed his superb effort with the bat earlier. Rashid Khan1/ 66 ( 10 overs) , Noor Ahmad 0/ 51 ( 10 overs) , Gulbadin Naib 1/ 16 ( 2 overs)
Match: Champions Trophy, 8th Match
Venue: Lahore | Date: Feb 26, 2025
