England and Afghanistan clashed in the 8th match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 26, 2025. Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and Afghanistan chose to bat first.
Afghanistan's innings was shouldered by Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 177 runs with 12 fours and 6 sixes to his name. Captain Shahidi and Mohammad Nabi made 40, while Azmatullah Omarzai made 41 runs, as Afghanistan scored 325/7 in 50 overs.
For England, Jofra Archer with 3 wickets, and Liam Livingstone took 2 wickets.
In response, England's top-order failed to click with Ben Duckett scoring 38 runs at the top. It was Joe Root, whose 120 in 11 balls with 11 fours and 1 six, kept England in the game. He got support from Jos Buttler (38) and Harry Brook (25).
He got out at the wrong time and though Jamie Overton made 32 runs in the end, England was bowled out for 317 runs as Afghanistan won the game by 8 runs. Azmatullah Omarzai was the star with 5/58 in his 9.5 overs.
This was the second time Afghanistan defeated England in a 50-over ICC event, previously being the ICC World Cup 2023.
With this win, Afghanistan remains in contention for the semi-final berth from Group B and will have to defeat Australia in their final group match. For England, it was a shocking exit from yet another ICC event.
The cricket fraternity was all praises for the Afghanistan team as they continue to rise in reputation in ODI cricket as well, after becoming legit contenders for the title in T20 format.
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