LAHORE, Pakistan: Afghanistan have sealed victory against England by eight runs following a thrilling fight in the eighth match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday.
Ibrahim Zadran was declared man of the match for CT’s highest individual score of 177.
Joe Root’s resilient 120 off 111 balls innings went in vain after England fell short of 8 runs losing all wickets in the final over at 317 on the board.
Skipper Jos Buttler made 38 while Jamie Overton went back to the pavilion making 32 runs.
Azmatullah Omarzai clinched 5 wicket haul conceding 58 runs.
Earlier, 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 the ICC Champions Trophy to stay in the competition.
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 40 off 24 balls while Azmatullah Omarzai made 41 and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 40 runs.
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’s dominance
Afghanistan tightened their grip on a crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match as England struggled in their chase of 326 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday.
With just 90 runs needed from 61 balls and only four wickets in hand, England are struggling in their must-win encounter.
Jos Buttler, England’s biggest hope in the middle order, fell for 38 in the 40th over, dealing a major blow to their chances.
The England skipper, who had stitched together an 83-run stand for the fifth wicket, was undone by Azmatullah Omarzai’s short-pitched delivery.
Attempting to pull, Buttler top-edged the ball to midwicket, where Rahmat Shah took a comfortable catch. His departure left England at 242 for 6 after 40 overs, with Liam Livingstone and Jamie Overton now at the crease.
Livingstone got off the mark with a fortunate edge for four but was soon dismissed by Gulbadin Naib, further denting England’s chase.
Afghanistan’s spinners dominate
Earlier in the innings, England lost two quick wickets inside the first seven overs. Mohammad Nabi struck with his very first ball, dismissing Jamie Smith, while Phil Salt misjudged Azmatullah Omarzai’s skiddy delivery and was bowled for a low score.
Joe Root stood firm and notched up his second consecutive half-century of the tournament. However, with England’s win probability at just 14%, he needed to convert his start into a big innings.
Just as Harry Brook appeared to steady the chase, he fell for 25 off 20 balls, chipping a simple return catch to Nabi, who continued to apply pressure.
Afghanistan in control
Afghanistan tightened their grip on the crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against England, making key inroads in the chase at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.
England, needing 326 to win, found themselves in trouble against Afghanistan’s potent spin attack, with Joe Root and the lower order carrying the hopes of a comeback.
With 148 runs required from 116 balls, Root reached his second consecutive fifty in the tournament, guiding a Rashid Khan googly for a single.
However, with England’s win probability at just 14%, their hopes hinge on Root converting his innings into a match-winning century. Losing him at this stage would all but seal Afghanistan’s victory.
Earlier, just when England appeared to stabilize, Mohammad Nabi turned the tide once again. Harry Brook, who had confidently eased into his innings with a fluent 25 off 20 balls, fell victim to Nabi’s sharp bowling.
The veteran spinner outfoxed Brook with a well-directed short delivery, forcing an indecisive poke straight back into his hands. Brook’s dismissal tilted the balance further in Afghanistan’s favour, adding to England’s mounting struggles.
Early collapse in chase
England’s run chase got off to a rocky start as Afghanistan struck twice within the first seven overs. Mohammad Nabi’s golden arm made an immediate impact, dismissing Jamie Smith off his first ball—marking the third consecutive ODI where he has struck with his opening delivery.
Phil Salt had earlier fallen to Azmatullah Omarzai, misjudging a skiddy delivery that shattered his off-stump. At 30 for 2, England were left relying on Root and Ben Duckett to rebuild.
England’s struggles against Afghanistan continued as they lost two early wickets while chasing a daunting 326-run target in their crucial ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai struck in quick succession, leaving England at 30 for 2 in the seventh over.
Nabi’s golden arm once again made an impact as he dismissed Jamie Smith off his first delivery—his third consecutive ODI where he has struck with his opening ball. Smith attempted an aggressive charge but edged it straight to backward point, where Azmat took a sharp catch.
Earlier, Phil Salt fell victim to Omarzai, misjudging a skiddy delivery that crashed into the off-stump. With Ben Duckett and Joe Root at the crease, England face an uphill task to rebuild their innings.
Earlier in the day, Afghanistan put up a commanding total of 325, powered by a breathtaking 177-run knock from opener Ibrahim Zadran. His innings, featuring 12 fours and six sixes off 146 balls, anchored Afghanistan’s batting effort after an early top-order collapse.
Zadran shared a blistering 111-run partnership in just 55 balls with veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, who chipped in with a quickfire 40 off 24 deliveries. Azmatullah Omarzai and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi contributed 41 and 40 runs, respectively, helping Afghanistan post a formidable total.
England’s bowlers had made early inroads, with Jofra Archer dismantling the Afghan top order, reducing them to 37 for 3 in 8.5 overs. Archer finished with figures of 3 for 64, while Liam Livingstone picked up two wickets.
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Adil Rashid and Jamie Overton claimed a wicket each, but England struggled to contain Afghanistan’s aggressive middle-order acceleration.
With both teams coming into this high-stakes Group B encounter after suffering defeats in their opening matches, the result will significantly impact their chances of progressing to the semifinals. England now face the tough challenge of overcoming Afghanistan’s spin attack while chasing under lights on a Lahore pitch that has already proven to be favourable for batting.
