Afghanistan created history by defeating England in Lahore on Wednesday night in a Group B game of the Champions Trophy 2025. Afghanistan won their game against England by 8 runs with a nail-biting finish to the encounter.
This match was remembered as Afghanistan’s first-ever win in the Champions Trophy tournament, but the match will be remembered more for Ibrahim Zadran’s 177-run innings.
During his 177-run knock, Zadran broke multiple records in this game, including the highest ODI inning by an Afghanistan batter, the only Afghanistan batsman to score a hundred in the ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy, the youngest player to score 150 or more runs in an ICC tournament, and the highest individual score against England in ICC tournaments.
Earlier in Lahore, Afghanistan decided to bat first after winning the toss. However, this decision of the Afghan captain proved to be a blunder as they lost three out of their top four batters in just 8.5 overs when the team’s total was 37. From there, Ibrahim Zadran and skipper Hamatullah Shahidi stitched a 103-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
After Sahidi’s dismissal, Azamatullah Omarzai came in the middle to support Zadran in his cause of rescuing Afghanistan from the muddle of the first power play. Omarzai and Zadran put up a 72-run stand for the fifth wicket. This partnership came to an end with Omarzai’s wicket on the last ball of the 40th over.
From there Mohammad Nabi and Ibrahim Zadran wreaked havoc on the English bowling line-up by adding 111 runs in just 55 balls to propel Afghanistan to a winning total of 325/7 in 50 overs.
The target of 326 was a humongous total to achieve, which brought Afghanistan two early wickets of Phil Salt and Jamie Smith in the powerplay because of the scoreboard pressure. Ben Duckett showed some resilience, but he was sent back to the pavilion by Rashid Khan on an individual score of 38 (45). After Duckett, Harry Brook fell when the team’s total was 133, but Joe Root held on one end and struck a century but failed to win the game for England.
In the end, Afghan bowlers bowled out England for 317 in just 49.5 overs to earn their second win over England in ICC Events.
Afghanistan vs England, 8th Match, Group B at Lahore, Champions Trophy 2025
Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran– 177 (146)
Azmatullah Omarzai– 41 (31)
Mohammad Nabi– 40 (24)
Jofra Archer– 3/64 (10 overs)
Liam Livingstone– 2/28 (5 overs)
Adil Rashid– 1/60 (10 overs)
England
Joe Root– 120 (111)
Jos Buttler– 38 (42)
Ben Duckett– 38 (45)
Azamatullah Omarzai– 5/58 (9.5 overs)
Mohammad Nabi– 2/57 (8 overs)
Fazalhaq Farooqi– 1/62 (10 overs)
