# England Crash Out of 2025 Champions Trophy After Thrilling Defeat to Afghanistan
Afghanistan Triumphs Over England in a Scintillating Contest
England’s campaign in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy came to an abrupt and disappointing end as they suffered an eight-run defeat against a spirited Afghanistan side at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Despite Joe Root’s magnificent 120-run knock, England faltered in their chase of 326, continuing their struggles in major tournaments. The victory marked Afghanistan’s second consecutive triumph over England in an ICC ODI event, following their win in the 2023 World Cup.
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Zadran’s Record-Breaking Knock Anchors Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s innings got off to a shaky start as they found themselves struggling at 37 for 3 after choosing to bat first. England’s Jofra Archer, playing a crucial role with the new ball, dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, and Rahmat Shah within the first 11 overs, putting England in a commanding position.
However, Ibrahim Zadran played a spectacular knock to rescue his side, registering a historic 177 off 146 balls. His innings became the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history and the best by an Afghan batter in ODIs. Alongside his captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Zadran steadied the innings, rotating the strike effectively and dispatching bad deliveries to the boundary.
Zadran reached his half-century in 65 balls before accelerating his scoring rate. His onslaught against Jamie Overton, which included a six back over the bowler’s head, was a turning point in the innings. Shahidi contributed a valuable 40 before falling to Adil Rashid, but Zadran continued his onslaught, finding boundaries at regular intervals.
Afghanistan’s Late Flourish Sets Challenging Target
While Zadran was the star of the innings, Azmatullah Omarzai played a crucial supporting role, smashing a quickfire 41 off 31 balls. England’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs as the duo unleashed a series of aggressive strokes. The final ten overs proved costly for England, with Afghanistan plundering 113 runs, thanks to a power-packed performance from Zadran and Mohammad Nabi.
Nabi added the finishing touches by taking on England’s spinners, clubbing Joe Root for two sixes. Zadran reached his 150 in just 134 balls and continued to torment England’s bowlers with his calculated aggression. Though Liam Livingstone bowled an exceptional 50th over, conceding just two runs and taking two wickets, Afghanistan posted a formidable 325/7 in their allotted 50 overs.
England’s Chase Gets Off to a Rocky Start
England’s pursuit of 326 began with promise but quickly derailed. Phil Salt found the boundary twice in the opening over but fell soon after, bowled by Omarzai while attempting an ill-advised swipe across the line. England then lost their second wicket at 30 when Jamie Smith chipped a simple catch to point off Mohammad Nabi’s first ball of the match.
Despite the early setbacks, Joe Root played a classy innings, showing his skill against spin. He started positively, finding the boundary thrice in his first 10 deliveries. His footwork was impeccable as he used both the crease and his reach to neutralize Afghanistan’s spinners. Ben Duckett, who had scored a century against Australia earlier in the tournament, looked fluent, finding gaps and punishing loose deliveries.
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Afghanistan Strikes Back with Crucial Wickets
Duckett received a lucky reprieve when Hashmatullah Shahidi dropped him on 30, but his stay was short-lived. He fell for 38, trapped LBW by Rashid Khan, as Afghanistan successfully overturned the on-field decision using DRS. Harry Brook arrived and started confidently, scoring three boundaries in his first 11 balls, but his promising innings ended abruptly when he chipped a return catch to Nabi.
At 133 for 4 in the 22nd over, England were under pressure, especially with captain Jos Buttler struggling for rhythm. Buttler was initially cautious, surviving an LBW review and failing to score freely against the spinners. His struggles put added pressure on Root, who continued to bat fluently at the other end. Buttler eventually broke free with a charge down the track to loft Nabi for six, but his innings was far from fluent.
Omarzai’s Game-Changing Spell
Root and Buttler added a crucial 83 runs for the fifth wicket before Afghanistan struck another decisive blow. Omarzai, returning for his second spell, dismissed Buttler with a well-directed bouncer, sending him back for a 42-ball 38. The dismissal put Afghanistan firmly in control as England’s lower middle order had a mountain to climb.
Gulbadin Naib then accounted for Liam Livingstone, who was caught behind for a single-digit score. England entered the final 10 overs needing 90 runs to win, with Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer at the crease.
Joe Root’s Century Goes in Vain
Root continued to fight, reaching his first ODI century in nearly six years off 98 balls. Battling exhaustion in the Lahore heat, he managed to produce some exquisite shots, including a reverse-scoop six off Fazalhaq Farooqi and a cleverly placed four past square leg. However, with England needing 39 off 25 balls, Root was finally undone by Omarzai’s slower-ball bouncer, departing for a brilliant 120.
With his departure, England’s hopes rested on Overton and Archer. Overton showed composure against Afghanistan’s spinners, setting himself up for a late flourish against the pacers. But as the pressure mounted, he too fell into Omarzai’s trap, miscuing a shot to long-on when England required 17 off 14 balls.
With Mark Wood, struggling with an injury, walking in at No. 11, the game had swung decisively in Afghanistan’s favor. Omarzai fittingly sealed the victory, claiming his fifth wicket by dismissing Adil Rashid in the final over.
A Historic Victory for Afghanistan
The victory was a momentous occasion for Afghanistan, reinforcing their growing reputation as a force in international cricket. Omarzai’s all-round brilliance (41 runs and 5/58) played a pivotal role in the win, complementing Zadran’s record-breaking innings. Their bowlers, led by Nabi, Rashid Khan, and Omarzai, executed their plans to perfection, stifling England’s chase at crucial moments.
For England, the loss marked another failure in a major ICC tournament, raising questions about their ability to handle pressure in knockout scenarios. Despite Root’s valiant effort, their middle order crumbled under Afghanistan’s relentless attack.
Match Summary
Afghanistan: 325/7 in 50 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 177, Azmatullah Omarzai 41; Jofra Archer 3-64)
England: 317 in 49.4 overs (Joe Root 120; Azmatullah Omarzai 5-58)
Result: Afghanistan won by 8 runs
As Afghanistan celebrated a historic win, England was left to reflect on another missed opportunity in a global tournament. Their exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy will undoubtedly prompt serious discussions about their approach in high-pressure matches. Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s journey continues, as they dream of making further inroads on the world stage.