Afghanistan stunned England with an exhilarating eight-run victory on Wednesday in Lahore, keeping their semi-final aspirations in the Champions Trophy alive. The match was a thrilling encounter, with Afghanistan moving to two points, just behind Australia and South Africa, who both have three points. England, on the other hand, were eliminated after suffering their sixth consecutive ODI loss.
Ibrahim Zadran Shines with a Career-Best 177
Afghanistan’s victory was driven by opener Ibrahim Zadran, who played a brilliant knock of 177 runs off 146 balls. His magnificent innings included 12 fours and six sixes, helping Afghanistan post a challenging total of 325 for 7 after opting to bat first. Zadran’s performance was the highlight of the day, leading his team to a competitive score.
Azmatullah Omarzai’s Game-Changing Five-Wicket Haul
On the bowling front, Azmatullah Omarzai turned the match in Afghanistan’s favor with a stellar five-wicket haul. His impressive figures of 5/58 limited England to 317 all out, sealing a memorable win for the underdogs.
Afghanistan’s Consistent Rise Noticed by Cricket Legends
The victory sparked a wave of congratulatory messages on social media, including from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar praised Afghanistan’s growth in international cricket, stating, “Afghanistan’s steady and consistent rise in international cricket has been inspiring! You can’t term their wins as upsets anymore, they’ve made this a habit now.”
He also lauded Zadran and Omarzai, saying, “A superb century by @IZadran18 and a wonderful five-for by @AzmatOmarzay sealed another memorable win for Afghanistan. Well played!”
The Road to the Semifinals
With this crucial win, Afghanistan now has a chance to qualify for the semifinals, but they must defeat Australia in their next match on Friday. If Afghanistan manages to pull off another victory, it will keep Australia on edge, as they await the result of the final Group B match between England and South Africa on Saturday.
India and New Zealand Already Through
Meanwhile, India and New Zealand have already secured their places in the semifinals from Group A, and all eyes will now be on the final stages of Group B to see which teams will join them.
The Excitement Builds
This victory has reaffirmed Afghanistan’s place among the top teams in international cricket. The rise of this team has been nothing short of remarkable, and with their semifinal hopes still alive, fans and cricket experts are eagerly awaiting the outcome of their next match against Australia.
What do you think of Afghanistan’s stunning win? Can they beat Australia and make it to the semifinals? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
