Afghanistan pulled off a stunning eight-run victory over England in a must-win encounter at the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, effectively ending England’s hopes of securing a semi-finals spot.
Azmatullah Omarzai was the standout performer for Afghanistan, claiming a decisive five-wicket haul and taking the final wicket of Adil Rashid in the last over, ensuring his team’s triumph.
England, chasing a target of 326, fell short despite Joe Root’s valiant effort, who scored 120 off 111 deliveries, marking his first ODI century since 2019. The English side continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, with Azmatullah Omarzai playing a pivotal role in their downfall.
Earlier, Afghanistan’s innings was anchored by Ibrahim Zadran, who scored a magnificent 177 runs off 146 deliveries, becoming the first Afghanistan batter to score a century in the ICC Champions Trophy. Zadran and Mohammad Nabi’s power-hitting in the death overs set up Afghanistan’s highest-ever total in ICC Men’s ODI tournaments.
Jofra Archer was the leading bowler for England, taking three wickets in his opening spell to reduce Afghanistan to 15/2. However, Zadran’s remarkable performance and the Afghan bowlers’ tenacity sealed a memorable win for Afghanistan.
