Nabi and Omarzai strike
Once again, you have to wonder if history is repeating itself. England’s ongoing struggles against spin are highlighted when Mohammad Nabi takes the ball at the start of the seventh over. Jamie Smith, eager to attack, eyes up Nabi’s traditional looping off-spin and charges forward.
However, the experienced Nabi reads him perfectly, skidding the ball through. Smith edges it, and Azmat at a backward point takes the catch. With England at 30 for 2, Duckett and Joe Root face the task of rebuilding.
This marks the third consecutive ODI innings where Nabi has taken a wicket off his first delivery – impressive for a 40-year-old.
Salt attempts a swish across the line, aiming to guide the length ball through midwicket, but it skids through faster and flatter than expected, crashing into the off stump while the leg stump remains untouched. Afghanistan strikes early in the powerplay, with Azmatullah Omarzai taking the vital wicket. Jamie Smith walks in at number three, already facing immense pressure in this chase.
Afghanistan’s opener, Ibrahim Zadran, dazzled with a stunning 177 runs, propelling his team to a formidable target of 326 against England in a crucial match of Champions Trophy 2025 at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore on Wednesday.
Zadran and experienced batter Mohammad Nabi made 111 runs record partnership on 55 balls. Zadran with the help of 6 sixes and 12 fours made 177 off 146, Mohammad Nabi scored quickfire 40off 24 balls while Azmatullah Omarzai made 41 and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 40 runs.
Earlier, England bowlers struck early blows as Jofra Archer dismantled their top order with three quick wickets to leave them reeling at 37/3 in 8.5 overs.
Ibrahim was then involved in an important fifth-wicket partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai with the duo adding 82 runs off just 63 balls until the latter fell victim to Jamie Overton in the 40th over.
Omarzai smashed one four and three sixes on his way to a 31-ball 41.
Ibrahim then joined forces with Mohammad Nabi and together they raised a sensational 111-run partnership until the opener finally perished on the first delivery of the final over.
He remained the top-scorer for Afghanistan with 177 off 146 deliveries, studded with 12 fours and six sixes.
Nabi, on the other hand, followed suit two balls later and walked back after scoring a quickfire 40 off 24 deliveries, laced with two fours and three sixes.
Archer was the standout bowler for England, picking up three wickets for 64 runs in his 10 overs, followed by Liam Livingstone with two wickets, while Overton and Rashid made one scalp apiece.
Afghanistan have up the ante against the English pacers as well as spinners. The team is looking forward to a massive total with a current run rate of 5.45 per over. Afghanistan are currently 210 for 4 in 39 overs.
Off comes the helmet, and his arms rise in celebration. Ibrahim Zadran scores his sixth ODI century, achieving the milestone in 106 balls with six fours and three sixes. The defining moment comes with a clipped single to midwicket off Liam Livingstone.
Under his watch, Afghanistan has recovered from a shaky 37 for 3 in the powerplay to a strong 190 for 4 after 37 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai continues his impressive form, hitting a straight-driven six to bring up a 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 45 balls. He then punishes Wood, hitting four and six off the first two balls of the next over, taking Afghanistan to 200 in style. Once again in this tournament, England are struggling to make inroads during the middle overs.
Afghanistan partnership
Even after losing early wickets, Afghanistan are doing well. They are 160 for 4 in 32.1 overs. Ibrahim Zadran has anchored the innings for his team by scoring 87 runs in 91 balls.
When a breakthrough is needed, Adil Rashid is often the go-to option. He could have been the game-changer against Australia last week, especially after Jofra Archer’s costly drop that let Alex Carey off the hook. This time, Rashid took matters into his own hands to break a crucial century partnership for Afghanistan. He bowled a front-of-the-hand slider to Hashmat, who attempted to sweep but was too late. The ball pitched near his foot, skidded past his legs, and hit the stumps. Hashmat was dismissed for 40 off 67 balls, and with Afghanistan at 140 for 4, the match was once again in the balance.
Archer’s dismissals
Afghanistan are currently 35 for 2 in 8.3 overs. Archer takes yet another wicket of Rahmat Shah.
Jofra Archer has reached 50 ODI wickets in 30 matches, a milestone that seemed improbable given his rapid success early in his career. After taking 23 wickets and winning a World Cup within months of his debut in 2019, injuries and the decreasing importance of ODIs have slowed his progress. Despite the long wait, Archer’s achievement is still significant, and he has set a new record as the fastest English bowler to reach 50 wickets, surpassing James Anderson’s previous record of 31 matches.
Not content with just 50, Archer quickly claimed his 51st wicket. Sediqullah Atal hit his first ball for four, breaking a boundary-less spell, but Archer responded on his third delivery by adjusting his line to the left-hander. He found the perfect angle into Atal’s pads with a fuller length, and the ball would have hit middle stump if it hadn’t been for the interference of Atal’s pad.
Two in quick succession for Jofra Archer! 💥💥
The 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 start.
🇦🇫 1️⃣5️⃣-2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/KwQVdgf8qB
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 26, 2025
Afghanistan has won the toss and elected to bat first against England in Group B encounter of Champions Trophy here at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore on Wednesday.
With India and New Zealand already securing their spots as the first two semifinalists from Group A, the narrative shifts dramatically to Group B. Here, the clash between Afghanistan and England morphs into a high-stakes do-or-die showdown.
5️⃣0️⃣ Strong & Counting! 👏@IZadran18 unlocks the milestone of 50 sixes in International cricket. 👍#AfghanAtalan | #ChampionsTrophy | #AFGvENG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/Y5HbuWxo9c
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 26, 2025
Both teams, having stumbled in their opening matches, face the daunting reality that another defeat could spell the end of their tournament ambitions. Yet, despite their shared misfortunes, the paths they took to those losses were strikingly different, revealing unique aspects of their game-play that demand attention.
Pitch and Conditions
England gained valuable insights into Lahore’s run-friendly pitch during their tournament debut, and they can expect more of the same on a pristine new surface. However, the weather may add a chill to the atmosphere. Recent rains might have left their mark, but while the match itself seems safe from precipitation, lingering cloud cover could be advantageous for England’s pace-heavy attack.
Afghanistan suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of South Africa’s bowlers, while England fell victim to an Australian batting onslaught, which set a formidable target. Their last encounter in an ICC ODI event, the 2023 World Cup in India, is one England would rather forget, as Afghanistan emerged victorious on that occasion.
Nevertheless, England showcased their batting prowess in the Champions Trophy opener, with Ben Duckett blazing a trail to 165 runs, propelling his team past the 350-run threshold. Joe Root reaffirmed his status as England’s premier batsman in subcontinental conditions with a commendable innings. However, the middle order faltered, with Harry Brook struggling to find form. The bowling unit, too, was a disappointment, failing to capitalize on several key moments throughout the game, with Adil Rashid being the lone standout performer. With Brysdon Carse sidelined for the remainder of the tournament, Rehan Ahmed steps in, potentially allowing for the inclusion of an extra spinner.
On the flip side, Afghanistan’s bowling attack underperformed, conceding far too many runs in their previous outing. They will need a reliable partner to support Fazalhaq Farooqi with the new ball, reminiscent of Naveen ul Haq’s contributions. Historically, Afghanistan thrives when their opening pair excels; thus, one of Rahmanullah Gurbaz or Ibrahim Zadran must ignite their innings to lay a solid foundation for the middle order. The spin trio of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi will once again play a pivotal role, but the batters must rise to the occasion if victory is to be achieved.
Both teams enter this contest nursing wounds from their prior performances, yet they stand on the cusp of a fresh start—a chance to reignite their aspirations of advancing beyond the group stages.
Stats & Trivia
Rahmat Shah, who scored 90 in the loss against South Africa, is just 41 runs shy of becoming the first Afghan player to reach 4000 ODI runs.
Rashid Khan needs two more wickets to become the first Afghan bowler to achieve 200 in ODIs.
Duckett, England’s centurion in the defeat to Australia, requires four runs to hit the 1000-run milestone in ODIs. Phil Salt is close behind with 968, while Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone are also nearing the 900-run mark.
Squads
England: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Jamie Smith (wk), 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jos Buttler (capt), 7 Liam Livingstone, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood
Afghanistan: (possible) 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Gulbadin Naib, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi
🚨 TEAM NEWS! 🚨#AfghanAtalan are going with an unchanged XI to their #ChampionsTrophy against England. 👍
Go well, Atalano! 🤩#AFGvENG | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/SIVhJHwzC0
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 26, 2025
