Zadran and Omarzai script history as Afghanistan oust England from Champions Trophy

Ibrahim Zadran's historic 177 and Azmatullah Omarzai's five-wicket haul helped Afghanistan knock England out of the Champions Trophy in the last over thriller at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 326, England were bowled out on 317 in 49.5 overs. 

Joe Root did score a sublime 120, however, the Afghan players held their nerve to close out the game., Azmatullah Omarzai had picked up five wickets in the second inning. 

The English team got off to a shaky start with 30-2 in the first six overs. Phil Salt (12) was dismissed in the third over, while Jamie Smith (9) was caught off Mohammad Nabi’s bowling.

Under immense pressure, Joe Root played a masterful knock, blending rotation with well-timed boundaries to keep England in contention.

His 35-run stand with Harry Brook initially provided some stability before Brook fell for 25, caught and bowled by Mohammad Nabi. Root, however, remained England’s anchor at the crease.

With England struggling, captain Jos Buttler joined Root and together they stitched an 83-run partnership for the fifth wicket, pulling England out of a precarious position.

Buttler played a steady innings of 38 off 42 balls, hitting two sixes, before Omarzai broke the crucial stand, dismissing the skipper at a vital juncture.

England’s troubles deepened when Liam Livingstone was caught behind for just 10 runs off Gulbadin Naib’s bowling. Yet, Root refused to surrender, adding a crucial 57-run partnership for the seventh wicket to keep England in the hunt.

However, Omarzai once again delivered for Afghanistan, dismissing Root in the 46th over just as England needed 39 more runs to win.

 Root's valiant 120 off 111 balls, featuring 12 fours and a six, marked his first ODI century since the 2019 World Cup, but it ultimately went in vain.

With England needing 13 runs off the final six balls and just one wicket remaining, Afghanistan held their nerve. Omarzai bowled brilliantly, removing Adil Rashid on the penultimate ball, sealing an unforgettable victory for Afghanistan.

Mohammad Nabi claimed two wickets, while Rashid, Naib, and Fazalhaq Farooqi contributed with one wicket apiece.

Earlier, Zadran scored a record-breaking 177 off 146 deliveries including six huge sixes and 12 elegant boundaries. He surpassed the record of Ben Duckket's 165 against Australia in the same tournament.  

After opting to bat first, Afghanistan did not have the best of starts as their opener, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6), was bowled by Jofra Archer in the fifth over.

Soon after, Archer also quickly removed the next two batters, Sediqullah Atal (4) and Rahmat Shah (4).

Afghanistan was 37-3 in 8.5 overs when skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (40) joined the opening batter, Ibrahim Zadran.

The duo added 103 runs to take their team to 140 in 29.3 overs. Shahidi was dismissed by Adil Rashid. His brisk innings included three fours.

However, Zadran looked promising and went on to score a half-century.

After the captain’s wicket, emerging all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai (41) joined the half-centurion Zadran. Both batters quickly put on a 72-run stand to give Afghanistan a good platform for a strong finish.

Omarzai quickly fired 41 off 31 innings, including three sixes and one four.

Earlier Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and opted to bat first against Jos Buttler’s England.

Coming into the Champions Trophy, Afghanistan were a much fancied side having won 8 of the 10 ODIs they played but a loss to South Africa has heavily impacted their chances at the next round.

But the Afghan team is known to cause upsets with the outfit producing one of the shocks of the 2023 ODI World Cup when they defeated England, who are their opponents on Wednesday.

England are coming into the match with a ego-bruising loss to Australia where the 2023 ODI world champions chasing down their 351-run target with relative ease thanks to a century by Josh Inglis.

Earlier, England captain Jos Buttler said his team is confident despite its opening defeat in the Champions Trophy as it chases a “perfect game” against Afghanistan.

The Group B clash in Lahore is effectively a knockout with the losing team out of the semi-final race of the 50-over tournament.

Afghanistan and England both lost their opening matches and rain washed out Tuesday's game in the group between Australia and South Africa.

That left Afghanistan and England with no further room for error.

To add to the intrigue, more than 160 British politicians called for England to boycott the game in protest against the Taliban government's restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan.

England skipper Jos Buttler called it "saddening" but had previously ruled out the prospect of a boycott.

Afghanistan are unchanged from their 107-run defeat to South Africa.

England lost their opener to Ashes rivals Australia by five wickets and were forced to make one change after fast bowler Brydon Carse was ruled out of the tournament injured.

Fast-bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton comes in.

Teams

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (capt), Liam Livingstone, Jofra Archer, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

Umpires: Joel Wilson (WIS), Sharfuddoula (BAN)

TV Umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)

Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (BAN)

History

In the Chamions Trophy, it is the first ever clash of both teams, as England and Afghanistan have only ever met in World Cups.

In the last meeting, Afghanistan had a memorable outing during the 2023. Both teams played three matches, and England won two and Afghanistan one.