AFG vs ENG: In a stunning show of determination and talent, Afghanistan recorded their first-ever victory in history, knocking England out of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Chasing a target of 325 runs at Lahore, Afghanistan won by 8 runs, leaving their mark in the cricketing world. Ibrahim Zadran’s stunning 177-run knock fetched him the Player of the Match award, as Azmatullah Omarzai’s brilliant all-round performance, including a five-wicket haul and a 41-run contribution, was the turning point.
Zadran’s Monumental Century Drove Afghanistan
Advertisement
Afghanistan had a wobbly start with just 39 runs on board and 3 top-order batsmen down in the powerplay. Zadran came out as the savior in the face of pressure, Ibrahim Zadran produced a masterclass, collecting 177 runs from 146 deliveries. This broke his own earlier highest ODI score for Afghanistan of 162 runs.
In the last powerplay between 40th over and 50th over, Afghanistan’s batting gained momentum scoring 113 runs while losing 2 wickets.
Along with Zadran, his teammates Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mohammad Nabi contributed a combined 121 runs to the Afghanistan total.
English Chase Falls Through: Root’s Century Went in Vain
Advertisement
Joe Root put up a fighting inning for 120 runs. His century proved to be insufficient to deliver victory. Even though he was the one standing strong in front of the spin attack of Afghanistan, he got an edge to the leg-cutter of Omarzai.
The turning point of the match was his wicket, caught off the bowling of Azmatullah Omarzai. This precipitated a collapse in England’s batting lineup. Key batsmen like Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, and Jamie Smith departed comparatively inexpensively, leaving unbelievable pressure on the middle order.
A late fight by Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer proved to be not enough for England as they were short of the target. All of them fell prey the cutters of Afghan pacers.
Azmatullah Omarzai’s Five-Wicket Haul Leads to Victory
Azmatullah Omarzai was Afghanistan’s bowling star, claiming five vital wickets. His five dismissals of England’s top batsmen – Phil Salt, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Jamie Overton, and Adil Rashid. Mohammad Nabi picked up two wickets, with Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib each picking up a wicket, complementing Omarzai’s work.
England’s loss here is a major blow to the team, marking the end of their Champions Trophy 2025 run for them. This win is a historic moment for Afghanistan, reflecting the country’s increasing prowess in global cricket.
Ibrahim Zadran’s brilliant innings led him to receive the Player of the Match award, acknowledging his crucial contribution to Afghanistan’s historic win.
ALSO READ: Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Danish Malewar’s Century Rescues Vidarbha from Early Collapse
Advertisement