An inspired performance from Ibrahim Zadran and Azmatullah Omarzai kept Afghanistan’s hopes alive in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, securing a thrilling eight-run victory over England at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. The win also ended England’s campaign in the group stage.
Afghanistan fans were transported back to the nostalgia of the 2023 ODI World Cup when their team defended a total against England. This encounter proved equally dramatic, delivering ODI cricket at its finest as momentum swung back and forth until the final ball.
England’s Chase Falters Despite Root’s Heroics
Chasing a daunting 326-run target, England’s innings began with early trouble. Azmatullah Omarzai, the ICC 2024 ODI Cricketer of the Year, struck early by dismissing Philip Salt for 12 (13), crashing the ball into the stumps. Mohammad Nabi then scalped Jamie Smith on his first ball, leaving England at 30/2 in the seventh over.
Joe Root and Ben Duckett tried to steady the ship, raising a 68-run stand. However, Rashid Khan broke the partnership by trapping Duckett (38) LBW, and Nabi soon sent Harry Brook back, tightening Afghanistan’s grip.
Root, showcasing his class, brought up his second consecutive half-century and received support from skipper Jos Buttler. The pair added 83 runs, with Buttler overcoming a scratchy start. Just as England seemed poised for recovery, Omarzai’s short ball tactic lured Buttler into a miscue, caught by Rahmat Shah.
Afghanistan’s resurgence continued as Gulbadin Naib dismissed Liam Livingstone (10) with a sharp edge to wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz. England’s tail offered resistance with Jamie Overton (32 off 28) and Jofra Archer hitting quick boundaries, but pressure mounted as wickets tumbled.
The turning point arrived when Root, batting fluently on 120 (111), was cramped for room and gloved a delivery to Gurbaz. With the onus on the lower order, Overton’s attempt to clear the ropes ended in Nabi’s hands, and Archer perished trying an aerial shot off Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Needing 13 off the final over, Adil Rashid went for glory but found Ibrahim Zadran at long-on, sealing England’s fate. Omarzai’s match-winning figures of 5/58 in 9.5 overs earned him widespread acclaim.
Zadran’s Historic Knock Lays the Foundation
Earlier, Afghanistan’s innings revolved around Ibrahim Zadran’s historic 177 off 146 deliveries, the highest individual score in ICC Champions Trophy history, surpassing Ben Duckett’s 165. Zadran also became the first Afghan player to score a century in any ICC event, marking a monumental moment in Afghan cricket history.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan stumbled to 37/3 with early wickets from Jofra Archer (3/64) and Adil Rashid. However, Zadran’s resilience shone through as he stitched a 103-run partnership with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 off 67).
Post Shahidi’s dismissal, Zadran accelerated with a 72-run stand alongside Omarzai (41 off 31, 3 sixes, 1 four). The real onslaught came with Mohammad Nabi’s arrival, their 111-run partnership propelling Afghanistan past 300. Zadran’s innings, featuring 12 fours and 6 sixes, ended on the first ball of the final over courtesy of Liam Livingstone (2/28).
Despite England’s efforts, led by Archer’s pace and Overton’s breakthroughs, Afghanistan’s total of 325/7 proved just enough.
What’s Next?
With this thrilling win, Afghanistan remains in contention for the semifinals, while England’s Champions Trophy journey comes to a premature end. Fans will long remember this nerve-wracking thriller that showcased Afghanistan’s resilience and growing stature in world cricket.