Afghanistan Stuns England in Champions Trophy 2025 Thriller

Sports Cricket

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-03-04 08:51:20 |

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In a remarkable display of cricketing prowess, Afghanistan secured a historic eight-run victory over England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The thrilling encounter took place in Lahore, where Afghanistan’s all-round brilliance outshone the defending champions in a crucial Group B match.

Batting first, Afghanistan posted their highest-ever total in an ICC Men's ODI tournament, amassing 325 runs. Ibrahim Zadran starred with a stunning knock of 177 runs off 146 balls, including 12 fours and six sixes. His record-breaking century made him the first Afghan batter to score a hundred in Champions Trophy history. Zadran's 103-run partnership with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi laid the foundation for Afghanistan's commanding total.

England's chase began on shaky ground as Azmatullah Omarzai's fiery bowling removed opener Phil Salt early. Mohammad Nabi's breakthrough dismissal of Jamie Smith further dented England's hopes. Despite a resilient 120-run innings from Joe Root — his first ODI century since 2019 — England struggled to keep momentum.

Omarzai emerged as the match-winner with a five-wicket haul, including key dismissals of Root, Jos Buttler, and Adil Rashid in the final over. His crucial breakthroughs at pivotal moments dismantled England's batting order, restricting them to 317 runs.

The victory marked Afghanistan’s first-ever win over England in the Champions Trophy, showcasing their growing dominance on the global stage. With this win, Afghanistan kept their semifinal hopes alive and delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable upsets.

Go!