Afghanistan’s eight-run victory over England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 keeps their semifinal hopes alive, while England is eliminated. Zadran’s record-breaking 177 runs led Afghanistan to set a target of 325. South Africa and Australia also face critical matches as they vie for semifinal spots, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament’s final stages.
Afghanistan achieved a landmark victory against England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, winning by eight runs and sustaining their semifinal ambitions. This win marks Afghanistan’s first victory in the Champions Trophy and continues their recent success over England, which includes their previous ODI World Cup triumph in 2023. Conversely, England is now eliminated from contention after suffering two successive defeats, having previously lost to Australia.
Afghanistan’s opener Ibrahim Zadran notably contributed to the win with a remarkable 177 runs, helping his team set a target of 325 runs. England’s response hinged on Joe Root’s performance, who scored 120 runs, but once he was out, Afghanistan’s bowlers, particularly Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai, secured the game with critical wickets and economical bowling.
In Group B, South Africa must win their final match against England to ensure semifinal qualification. Should South Africa lose, they will have to rely on the match between Australia and Afghanistan to determine their fate regarding qualifications, as they would need their net run rate to surpass that of the other teams.
Australia, with three points from two matches, also require a win against Afghanistan to guarantee their place in the semifinals. If they lose, they will depend on a significant defeat of South Africa to remain competitive for a semifinal spot, which adds pressure to their next game against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan, having gathered two points, is still fighting for a semifinal spot. A victory in their next encounter against Australia would boost them to four points and potentially secure their place in the top two. Conversely, a loss would eliminate them from the tournament.
England’s consecutive losses have resulted in their elimination from the semifinal race. Their last group match against South Africa holds no significance for them, but it is crucial for South Africa’s chances to remain in the tournament.
Currently, Afghanistan’s historic win propels them toward potential semifinal qualification, while England’s elimination reshapes the competition in Group B. South Africa and Australia now face crucial matches that will determine their fates, with every point and net run rate being critical in these concluding games. The final matches will be pivotal in deciding the semifinalists in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
