Afghanistan Stuns England in Thrilling ICC Champions Trophy Clash, Shaking Up Group B

February 26, Gadaffi Stadium: In a dramatic turn of events at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Afghanistan delivered a stunning eight-run victory over defending champions England in Lahore, effectively knocking them out of the tournament. The result has thrown Group B wide open, with Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa now vying for the two semifinal spots, where Net Run Rate (NRR) could play a decisive role.

Chasing a daunting target of 326 in a must-win encounter, England fell short at 313/9, thanks to a heroic performance by Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai. The 2024 ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year claimed a five-wicket haul, including the crucial dismissal of Adil Rashid in the final over, sealing a historic win for Afghanistan.

Omarzai set the tone early, removing Phil Salt in the opening over, and later returned to dismiss England’s batting mainstay, Joe Root, who had kept his team in the hunt with a magnificent 120 off 111 balls. Root’s century, his first in ODIs since 2019, included 11 fours and a six, but his dismissal proved pivotal as England’s chase faltered.

England captain Jos Buttler contributed a vital 83-run partnership with Root, but Omarzai struck again to remove Buttler, swinging momentum back in Afghanistan’s favor. The Afghan all-rounder also accounted for Craig Overton and Rashid in the dying moments, ensuring England’s innings fell short.

Earlier in the match, Afghanistan posted their highest-ever total in ICC Men’s ODI tournaments, powered by a sensational 177-run knock from Ibrahim Zadran. The opener smashed 12 fours and six sixes off 146 deliveries, becoming the first Afghan batter to score a century in the ICC Champions Trophy. Zadran’s 103-run partnership with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (who scored 48) laid the foundation for Afghanistan’s imposing total.

Despite losing three wickets in the powerplay, Afghanistan recovered brilliantly, with Zadran and Shahidi steadying the innings. Although Shahidi fell to Adil Rashid in the 30th over, Zadran continued to dominate, ensuring Afghanistan finished with a commanding score.

The victory marks a monumental moment for Afghanistan cricket, as they eliminated England and kept their semifinal hopes alive in a fiercely competitive group. With Australia and South Africa also in the mix, the race for the knockout stages promises to be a thrilling one, with NRR likely to play a decisive role in determining the final standings.

For England, the shock exit marks a disappointing end to their campaign, while Afghanistan’s dream run continues, setting the stage for an exciting climax to Group B.

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