Afghanistan knocked England out of Champions Trophy (Image Credit:- X)
Afghanistan beat England by 8 runs and knocked them out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Chasing 326 run target England bowled out for 317 in 49.5 overs. Afghan player Ibrahim Zadran named Player of the Match for his outstanding knock of 177 runs from 146 balls.
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Elected to bat first Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6 runs from 15 balls) , Sediqullah Atal (4 runs from 4 balls) and Rahmat Shah (4 runs from 9 balls) inside the first power play. At the end of 10 overs they were 39/3.
Ibrahim Zadran becomes the first Afghanistan player to hit century in ICC Champions Trophy (Image Credit:- X)
Ibrahim Zadran (177 runs from 146 balls) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 runs from 67 balls) brought Afghanistan back in the game with 103 run fourth wicket stand. Spinner Adil Rashid broke the partnership by dismissing Hashmatullah Shahidi in the 30th over.
Ibrahim Zadran who hit his sixth International century becomes the first Afghanistan player to hit century in ICC Champions Trophy. The previous best score was by Rahmat Shah , who scored 90 against South Africa in Afghanistan’s first ever match of the tournament.
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Azmatullah Omarzai (41 runs from 31 balls) and Mohammed Nabi (40 runs from 24 balls) also helped Afghanistan to reach 325/7 in 50 overs.
Jofra Archer (3/64 in 10 overs) , Liam Livingstone (2/28 in 5 overs) , Adil Rashid (1/60 in 10 overs) and Jamie Overton (1/72 in 10 overs) are the wicket takers for England.
England lost Phil Salt (12 runs from 13 balls) and Jamie Smith (9 runs from 13 balls) early in the powerplay chasing 326. Opener Ben Duckett (38 runs from 45 balls) and Joe Root (120 runs from 111 balls) put together 68 runs from 63 balls for the third wicket before Rashid Khan trapped Ben Duckket infront of the stumps.
Joe Root century goes in vain (Image Credit:- X)
Joe Root hit his 17th ODI century becomes the first England player to hit an ODI century since 2019 ODI World Cup. England lost Root at crucial time when England needed 39 more from 26 balls.
Jos Buttler (38 runs from 42 balls) , Jamie Overton (32 runs from 28 balls) and Harry Brook (25 runs from 21 balls) got decent start but failed to make big impact in the game.
Pacer Azmatullah Omarzai took 5 wickets for 58 runs in his 9.5 overs shines with the ball for Afghanistan. Mohammed Nabi (2/57 in 9 overs) , Gulbadin Naib (1/16 in 2 over) Fazalhaq Farooqi (1/62 in 10 overs) and Rashid Khan (1/66 in 10 overs) are the other wicket takers for Afghanistan.
Player of the Match:- Ibrahim Zadram (177 runs from 146 balls)
Next Match (27/02/25):- Pakistan vs Bangladesh , 02:30 PM.