Afghanistan defeated England by eight runs in a dramatic Champions Trophy match, eliminating England from the tournament. Ibrahim Zadran led with 177 runs, and Azmatullah Omarzai took five wickets, facilitating Afghanistan’s victory. Despite Joe Root’s 120 runs, England’s batting failures resulted in their second consecutive loss to Afghanistan, marking their exit from the competition.
Afghanistan stunned England in a thrilling match, eliminating them from the Champions Trophy with an eight-run victory. Ibrahim Zadran’s impressive 177 runs and Azmatullah Omarzai’s five-wicket haul were crucial in this match held in Lahore, where Afghanistan posted a challenging total of 325-7 before bowling England out for 317. Despite Joe Root’s determined 120, England fell short and lost their second consecutive ODI against Afghanistan, complicating their chances in the tournament.
Afghanistan started the match under pressure, facing calls for a boycott from British politicians regarding the Taliban’s treatment of women. Electing to bat first, they experienced early setbacks, losing three wickets for just 37 runs. However, Zadran’s stellar partnership with Hashmatullah Shahidi steadied the innings and later, he put on another significant stand with Mohammad Nabi to post a competitive first innings total.
Zadran’s knock was a remarkable display of batting as he scored 177 runs from 146 balls, surpassing his previous best and setting a new tournament record. His innings was marked by powerful stroke play, including 12 fours and six sixes. Shahidi praised Zadran, stating, “I think it was one of the best ODI innings I have ever seen.”
In response, England struggled despite a steady effort from Root, who achieved his first ODI century in almost five years. England’s innings was plagued by regular wickets, as they faced continuous pressure from the Afghan bowlers. Mark Wood’s early injury hindered England’s chances, and after a shaky start, they were unable to build in momentum effectively, culminating in another disappointing defeat.
As the match progressed, Root’s efforts were recognized, but he ultimately fell after being caught behind off Omarzai’s bowling, contributing to England’s collapse. With this result, Afghanistan kept their hopes alive for the semi-finals while England became the third team eliminated from the tournament, following similar fates faced by Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The match in Lahore showcased Afghanistan’s remarkable resilience and superior performance, highlighted by Zadran’s explosive batting and Omarzai’s effective bowling. England’s struggle to maintain wickets and their inability to capitalize on Root’s strong batting display proved detrimental, sealing their exit from the tournament. This defeat underscores a pivotal turnaround of fortune between the two teams, as England faces scrutiny over another disappointing ODI outing.
Original Source: www.foxsports.com.au
