Afghanistan knocked England out of the Champions Trophy with a thrilling eight-run win in Lahore. Ibrahim Zadran’s record-breaking 177 and Azmatullah Omarzai’s all-round brilliance sealed the victory.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan stumbled to 37 for 3 after Jofra Archer’s fiery spell. Zadran and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi steadied the innings with a 103-run stand. Omarzai (41 off 31) and Mohammad Nabi’s late hitting propelled Afghanistan to 325 for 7. Zadran’s 177 was the highest by an Afghan batter in ODIs and a Champions Trophy record, surpassing Ben Duckett’s 165.
England’s chase was anchored by Joe Root, whose 120 was his first ODI century since 2019. He lacked support as wickets fell regularly. Phil Salt and Jamie Smith departed early, while Ben Duckett and Harry Brook failed to convert starts. Jos Buttler’s struggles continued, and his dismissal for 38 left Root with a daunting task.
Root battled cramps but kept England in the hunt before falling to Omarzai’s short ball. Jamie Overton’s 32 gave hope, but his departure left the lower order with too much to do. Archer and Adil Rashid tried, but Rashid’s attempt to clear the ropes on the penultimate ball found Zadran, sealing England’s fate.
Omarzai’s five-wicket haul (5-58) complemented his vital knock, while Archer (3-64) led England’s bowling attack. Afghanistan’s disciplined effort now sets up a high-stakes clash with Australia, as England’s campaign ends in disappointment.
Leave a Reply