Afghanistan’s dramatic eight-run victory toppled England in the eighth match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Ibrahim Zadran’s explosive 177, backed by Azmatullah Omarzai’s five-wicket haul, propelled Afghanistan to a thumping victory to keep their dream of making it to the semi-finals alive while also eliminating England.
Ready to chase 326, England’s innings got off to a disastrous start, Phil Salt (12) and Jamie Smith (9) falling early as they slumped to 30/2 in 6.1 overs. Joe Root and Ben Duckett added 68 runs to revive hopes before Rashid Khan dismissed Duckett for 38.
Root made 25 while adding 35 for the third wicket with Harry Brook before adding 83 for the fifth wicket with captain Jos Buttler. But Omarzai made his mark in the 37th over when he dismissed Buttler (38 off 42), which meted out a blow to England’s momentum.
England’s problems compounded as Liam Livingstone went cheaply, leaving Root and Jamie Overton with a 54-run fightback to make. Omarzai then returned to remove Root (120 off 111) and Overton in quick succession, shattering England’s hopes with 17 runs still required.
In the final over, Omarzai helped seal the win with figures of 5/58, aided by Mohammad Nabi’s two wickets and one each from Rashid Khan, Gulbadin Naib and Fazalhaq Farooqi. The valiant chase by England ended at 317, eight runs shy of the target.
Afghanistan chose to bat first and slumps to 37/3 after Jofra Archer’s fiery spell took three early wickets. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 off 67) and Zadran then rescued the innings with a vital 103-run stand.
Zadran and Omarzai (41 off 31) added 72 runs quickly; Zadran and Nabi (40 off 24) added 111 runs for the sixth wicket. Zadran scored 177 in 146 balls, hitting 12 fours and six sixes, as Afghanistan posted a challenging 325/7.
Archer led the bowling attack for England with figures of 3/64, while Livingstone took two wickets and Overton and Adil Rashid took one each. England’s efforts to control that late charge, led by Zadran’s heroics, had proved fruitless.
This win keeps Afghanistan’s drive toward the semi-finals alive. Their next challenge will be against Australia on Friday, February 28, in Gaddafi Stadium.
England, eliminated from the tournament, lamented a missed opportunity in a game that spiralled into one defined by Afghanistan’s resilience and inspiration.
