In a shocking turn of events, Afghanistan pulled off a major upset at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 by defeating the defending champions, England, by a convincing margin of 69 runs. This thrilling encounter took place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Winning the toss, holders England chose to field first, and Afghanistan seized the opportunity, setting a formidable target of 285 runs. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz stole the show with a dazzling 80 runs off just 57 balls, while wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil contributed a valuable half-century.
Gurbaz’s explosive innings was marked by rapid fifty and a flurry of boundaries, but England’s leg-spinner Adil Rashid (3-42) managed to dismiss key Afghan batsmen, creating some tension during the match.
Gurbaz, on the cusp of achieving a World Cup century, was run out in an unfortunate manner due to a risky run called by skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi. His frustration was evident as he left the field, smashing his bat against the boundary rope in disappointment.
In the later stages of their innings, Afghanistan’s lower-order batsmen, including spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, contributed with significant runs, helping their team reach a competitive total.
Facing a target of 285, England’s batting lineup struggled against Afghanistan’s trio of spinners. Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi set the tone by dismissing opener Jonny Bairstow early in the match. Although Harry Brook showed resistance with a 66-run innings, Afghanistan’s bowlers, particularly Mujeeb Ur Rahman, tightened the grip on England, reducing them to 169-8.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who played a crucial role with the ball, earned the player of the match award for his exceptional performance. After the victory, Mujeeb expressed his pride and joy, highlighting the significance of beating the defending champions in a World Cup match.
Adil Rashid, reflecting on the victory, expressed hope that it would bring a smile to the faces of people back in Afghanistan, who have been grappling with multiple earthquakes that have caused significant casualties.
England’s captain, Jos Buttler, acknowledged the tough loss and congratulated Afghanistan for their impressive performance. He recognized that Afghanistan’s skillful attack had put immense pressure on the English team.
The defeat puts England in the fifth position in the group standings, with one win from three matches, just one place ahead of Afghanistan. Afghanistan, despite previous losses to Bangladesh and India, emerged as the underdogs and delivered a stunning victory, their first in World Cup matches since 2015.
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