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Ibrahim Zadran’s majestic 177 and pacer Azmatullah Omarzai’s fifer trumped Joe Root’s masterful hundred, as Afghanistan registered an exciting eight-run win to knock a largely-insipid England out of the Champions Trophy in Lahore on Wednesday.
England is winless after two matches and in its final league match in Group B it is going to face South Africa, who already has three factors together with Australia.
Afghanistan now has two factors and should beat the Aussies of their ultimate group match to entertain the hopes of reaching the final eight.
For a very long time, England’s chase merely rattled alongside because the dismissal of Phil Salt and Jamie Smith jolted it early. It was 30 for 2 then and finally ended up at 317 all out with a ball to spare as pacer Omarzai (5/58) struck at essential junctures.
However Root (120, 111b, 11×4, 1×6) introduced stability to England’s innings by way of two alliances, including 68 runs with Ben Duckett (38), who was dropped on 29, for the third wicket after which an 83-run stand with skipper Jos Buttler for the fifth wicket.
England’s Joe Root in motion.
| Picture Credit score:
AP
England’s Joe Root in motion.
| Picture Credit score:
AP
They have been not likely blazing partnerships however stored England afloat, holding it within the neighborhood of the asking fee.
However the jettisoning of Duckett and Buttler prematurely curtailed these blossoming joint ventures, as Root needed to shoulder the burden all by himself.
Root’s was a intelligent innings, as he hardly hit any ball arduous however nonetheless managed a strike fee near 100, and at instances above 100.
However there have been these little prospers that are so central to a Root innings reminiscent of a reverse sweep 4 off wrist spinner Noor Ahmad or a scooped six behind wicketkeeper off Fazalhaq Farooqi.
He introduced up his seventeenth ODI hundred with a single off Rashid Khan, and regarded to remain on. However a reasonably drained ramp off pacer Omarzai ended within the gloves of keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
England had one other prepared soldier in Jamie Overton (32, 28b), who added treasured 54 runs for the seventh wicket, however a feeble heave off Omarzai ended his stint.
Champions-Trophy 2025 Factors Desk after Afghanistan vs England match
It additionally marked the tip of England’s journey on this event.
Earlier, Zadran’s outstanding innings helped Afghanistan pile 325 for seven.
Zadran, whose hundred got here off 146 balls (12×4, 6×6), had strong help from skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (40, 67b, 3×4), with whom he raised 103 runs for the fourth wicket, and Omarzai (41, 31b) with whom he milked 72 runs for the fifth wicket.
Later, he plundered 111 runs for the sixth wicket with Mohammed Nabi (40, 24b) to place England by way of the wringer.
Afghanistan’s begin to a must-win recreation was means off the mark after it elected to bat. Jofra Archer’s (3/64) tempo and accuracy put it underneath appreciable strife inside the primary 10 overs on a batting magnificence.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz dragged an Archer supply again onto his stumps whereas trying a drive, Sediquallah Atal was trapped in entrance and Rahmat Shah pulled one straight to Adil Rashid at sq. leg because the Afghans slumped to 37 for 3 contained in the PowerPlay.
Group B qualification eventualities | England knocked out; Afghanistan, Australia, South Africa to battle for 2 spots
Zadran started the restore work within the firm of Shahidi and so they have been understandably circumspect.
However as soon as he reached 50 off 65 balls, Zadran opened up extra and smoked Jamie Overton for a few fours to sign the shifting of gears.
Nonetheless, Shahidi was dismissed when he tried to reverse sweep leg-spinner Rashid, whose front-of-the-arm supply crashed onto the stumps.
Zadran flourished within the firm of Omarzai as England felt the warmth of double-barrel firing.
England additionally needed to cope with a knee damage to pacer Mark Wooden, as he bowled solely eight overs even after spending a while away from the sector through the Afghan innings.
Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran in motion.
| Picture Credit score:
REUTERS
Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran in motion.
| Picture Credit score:
REUTERS
Zadran, who introduced up his sixth ODI hundred off 106 balls, quickly slipped into overdrive, smashing Overton for six, 4, 4, in an over.
The departure of Omarzai didn’t decelerate the 23-year-old as he blasted Archer for six, 4, 4, 4 to succeed in the 150-run mark for the second time in his profession.
Together with a veteran batter Nabi, Zadran added fast runs for the sixth wicket at over 11 runs an over as England fell aside spectacularly within the ultimate 10 overs, conceding 113 runs. Zadran finally fell to Liam Livingstone within the ultimate over.
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