Lahore: In a crucial Group B England vs Afghanistan match of the ICC Champions Trophy at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first and Set a 326-run Target for England, Powered by Ibrahim Zadran’s Brilliant Batting.
Cautious Batting After Afghanistan’s Early Wickets
Playing at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Afghanistan lost their first wicket in the fourth over on the very first ball, with opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz getting bowled out by Jofra Archer for 6 runs.
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In the England vs Afghanistan match, on the fifth ball of the same over, Sediqullah Atal was dismissed for just 4 runs via LBW. Jofra Archer struck again to claim Afghanistan’s third wicket at a total of 37 runs when Rahmat Shah was caught out for 4 runs.
Ibrahim Zadran’s Century Anchors Afghanistan to a Competitive Total
Following the early setbacks in the England vs Afghanistan match, Afghanistan’s middle-order batsmen played cautiously to stabilize the innings. Opener Ibrahim Zadran held one end and, with support from other batters, helped Afghanistan recover. He played a remarkable innings, showcasing elegant strokes all around the field.
Zadran completed a brilliant century and played a crucial role in setting a competitive target for England. He formed important partnerships with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and later with Azmatullah Omarzai.
Hashmatullah scored 40 runs before getting dismissed by Adil Rashid, while Azmatullah contributed 41 runs before being caught off Overton’s delivery.
England vs Afghanistan: Zadran-Nabi’s Blazing Partnership Powers Afghanistan to 325
England’s bowlers looked even more helpless when Ibrahim Zadran and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi forged a blistering 111-run partnership off just 55 balls for the sixth wicket. On the first ball of the final over, Zadran was caught out after a magnificent 177-run knock, which included 12 fours and 6 sixes, taking Afghanistan to a commanding total of 323.
Just a run later, Mohammad Nabi also departed, having played a fiery 40-run innings off 24 balls, featuring 3 sixes and 2 fours. Afghanistan concluded their innings at 325/7 in the allotted 50 overs.
We Will Try to Defeat England – Afghanistan Captain
Before the match, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi stated that the pitch tends to slow down in the second innings, which would favor their spinners. He expressed confidence in his team, recalling their victory against England in 2023.
However, he emphasized the need to play with a fresh mindset. He acknowledged England as a strong team but reiterated Afghanistan’s goal to perform at their best. Shahidi also mentioned that only by playing top-quality cricket could they secure a spot in the semi-finals, adding that it’s always encouraging to receive praise from cricketing legends.
Afghanistan is Improving – Jos Buttler
On the other hand, England captain Jos Buttler noted that the pitch looked good and that his team would aim for a solid performance to secure victory. Buttler revealed that England made one change, with Jamie Overton replacing Brydon Carse.
He acknowledged Afghanistan’s progress as a team and recognized their spinners as a formidable challenge. Buttler added that England would carry forward the positives from their previous matches and expressed disappointment over Carse’s exclusion but saw it as a good opportunity for Overton to step up.
Both teams entered this match after suffering defeats in their opening games—England lost to Australia in a historic run chase, while South Africa comfortably defeated Afghanistan.
England vs Afghanistan: A Do-or-Die Clash for Both Teams
The rain-affected match between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi was abandoned, awarding both teams a point each. This has made the Group B points table highly competitive, keeping the semi-final race open for all teams.
With the Australia-South Africa match washed out, the England vs Afghanistan clash has become a do-or-die encounter. The losing team of the England vs Afghanistan match will be eliminated from the tournament’s semi-final race.
India & New Zealand Reach Semis, Pakistan & Bangladesh Out
Meanwhile, in Group A, Pakistan (the host and defending champion) and Bangladesh have failed to impress, leading to a clear scenario where India and New Zealand have comfortably secured their semi-final spots by winning both of their matches.
Pakistan and Bangladesh have been eliminated from the semi-final race following their losses to India and New Zealand.
