On February 26, 2025, Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore hosted an exhilarating ICC Champions Trophy match between Afghanistan and England, where Afghanistan emerged victorious with a commanding performance.
Afghanistan set the tone by opting to bat first. They scored 325 runs for the loss of 7 wickets over their full quota of 50 overs, with Ibrahim Zadran taking center stage by notching up an impressive 177 runs off 146 balls, featuring 12 boundaries and 6 sixes. This stellar performance anchored Afghanistan's innings and left England with a challenging target.
The English bowlers struggled to contain the Afghan batsmen, with Jofra Archer being the standout for England, claiming 3 wickets for 64 runs. The fall of wickets for Afghanistan came at 11 for 1 (Gurbaz), 15 for 2 (Sediqullah), and so forth, as they built their score progressively. Other notable contributions from Afghanistan included Hashmatullah with 40 runs and Azmatullah with 41 runs, both helping their team maintain momentum.
When it was England's turn to bat, they faced immense pressure from the Afghan bowlers. Despite Joe Root's solid knock, which saw him score 77 not out off 78 balls, England stumbled at 206 runs for 4 wickets after just 34.3 overs. Jos Buttler also contributed with 36 runs, but the rest of the batting lineup couldn't hold firm.
The Afghan bowling attack was sharp and efficient, with Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan picking up 2 and 1 wickets, respectively. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah each managed to keep the run rate down, securing the win for Afghanistan.
This match marks another significant achievement for Afghanistan cricket as they continue to demonstrate their growth on the international stage. The victory against England not only boosts their morale but also sets them up favorably in the tournament.
With the ICC Champions Trophy being highly competitive, Afghanistan's performance will undoubtedly attract attention as they look to build on this success.
This encounter stands out as a reminder of the thrilling unpredictability of cricket, particularly when teams like Afghanistan rise to the occasion against historically dominant teams like England.