Afghanistan pulled off yet another stunning victory over England in an ICC ODI tournament, triumphing in a thrilling contest in Lahore. The win not only reaffirmed Afghanistan’s growing confidence on the world stage but also ended England’s campaign, dealing a major blow to Jos Buttler’s side.
Zadran’s Heroic Knock Leads Afghanistan to 325
After a shaky start at 39/3, Afghanistan mounted an incredible comeback, posting 325 runs. The innings was anchored by Ibrahim Zadran’s masterful 177 off 146 balls, the highest individual score ever by an Afghan batter in ODIs. His knock, combined with crucial contributions from Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Mohammad Nabi, powered Afghanistan to a strong total.
The recovery was methodical—Zadran and Shahidi added 103 runs in 124 balls to stabilize the innings. Then, Omarzai injected momentum with a 72-run stand off 63 balls. The finishing touch came in the final 10 overs, where Afghanistan plundered 113 runs, with Nabi and Zadran adding a rapid 111-run partnership off just 55 balls.
Afghanistan’s head coach, Jonathan Trott, lauded Zadran’s brilliance, emphasizing how well he adapted to different phases of the innings. “To get to 325 after being 39 for 3 just shows the quality of Ibrahim as a player. He was supported brilliantly by Azmat and Nabi, which allowed him to accelerate at the right moments,” said Trott.
England’s Fightback Falls Short
Chasing 326, England also faced early setbacks before Joe Root anchored the innings with a well-crafted century—his first in ODIs since June 2019. Root built crucial partnerships with the middle order, keeping England in the game. However, with 39 needed off 26 balls, Omarzai dismissed Root, tilting the momentum back in Afghanistan’s favor.
England still had hope, needing 13 runs off the last over with Adil Rashid and Mark Wood at the crease. However, Omarzai bowled a clinical final over, allowing only singles before sealing the victory with a wicket, sending Afghanistan into celebrations while officially knocking England out of semifinal contention.
England’s Struggles with Death Bowling and Injuries
Reflecting on the loss, England captain Jos Buttler pointed to their struggles in the final 10 overs and the lack of support for Root. “We started great with early wickets, but Ibrahim played a fantastic innings. Conceding 113 runs in the last 10 overs added pressure to our chase. In the batting innings, we needed one of the top six to stay with Root longer,” he admitted.
Adding to England’s woes, fast bowler Mark Wood suffered a knee issue, limiting him to just eight overs. His absence forced England to rely on part-time options for the 47th and 50th overs, with Joe Root conceding 23 runs in a crucial over that gave Afghanistan the late boost they needed.