In a stunning upset at the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, Afghanistan secured a resounding 69-run victory over the defending champions, England. England’s batting order struggled against Afghanistan’s prowess as they chased a target of 285 runs but were dismissed for 215 runs, with Harry Brook as the lone standout, contributing 66 runs. This triumph marks Afghanistan’s second-ever victory in the World Cup, a historic moment for the team. Prior to this, Afghanistan had participated in 17 World Cup matches, with only one victory, against Scotland.
The crucial clash unfolded on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, where England’s captain, Jos Buttler, won the toss and elected to field. Afghanistan, batting first, managed to post a total of 284 runs before being all out in the final over. The dynamic Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the top scorer with 80 runs, while Ikram added 58 runs. Afghanistan’s innings began with a strong start, as openers Rahmanullah and Ibrahim Zadran formed a solid partnership of 114 runs for the first wicket. However, England’s Adil Rashid dismissed Ibrahim after he had contributed 28 runs. Newcomer Rahmat Shah fell to Adil Rashid after scoring just 3 runs, and later, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was run out after his impressive 80-run performance. Azmatullah Omarzai was caught by Livingstone after making 19 runs. Nonetheless, Ikram played a pivotal role by crafting an innings of 58 runs. In addition, Rashid Khan contributed 23 runs, and Mujibur Rahman added 28 runs to the total.
Ultimately, Afghanistan’s innings concluded at 284 runs in 49.5 overs, with Adil Rashid taking 3 wickets and Mark Wood securing 2 wickets for England. Facing a target of 285 runs, England’s batting woes began early as wickets fell consistently, preventing English batsmen from establishing steady partnerships. Aside from Harry Brook’s fifty, no other batsman could effectively counter Afghanistan’s bowlers. England lost their first wicket with just 3 runs on the board. Bairstow was dismissed after scoring 2 runs, followed by Joe Root at 11 and David Malan at 32 runs. As wickets continued to tumble, Harry Brook reached the half-century mark.
Adil Rashid contributed 20 runs, Mark Wood added 18 runs, and Topley chipped in with 15 runs. In just 40.3 overs, the Afghan bowlers dismantled the entire English lineup. Consequently, Afghanistan secured a stunning 69-run victory over the defending champions, England, in the World Cup. In an insightful interview on the DAFA NEWS cricket show, Tasmeen Granger, Zimbabwe’s national player/coach, shared significant statistics.
Granger noted, “The ODI record between England and Afghanistan: Out of 3 matches, Afghanistan secured victory in one, showcasing their burgeoning cricketing prowess. Joe Root’s fielding record in the World Cup: He now shares the record for the most catches by a fielder in a World Cup edition, joining an exclusive group of cricketers. Sam Curran’s economy record in the World Cup: He currently ranks third with a 7.82 economy, indicating the need for improvements in this area. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s batting feat: His score of 80 equals the third-highest by any Afghan player in a World Cup match. Afghanistan’s accomplishments: Setting records for powerplay scores, partnerships, and achieving their second-highest total in the World Cup.” This thrilling contest will be remembered as a defining moment in the ICC World Cup 2023. Afghanistan’s rapid ascent in the cricketing world continues to captivate fans globally, while England is left with valuable lessons to learn from this unexpected defeat. The match’s unpredictable nature, combined with flashes of brilliance, reaffirms cricket’s status as a riveting and captivating spectacle.
