In a stunning upset at the World Cup 2023, Afghanistan secured a historic victory by defeating reigning champions England with a remarkable 69-run margin in Delhi. This triumph marks a watershed moment in Afghanistan’s international cricket history.
The Afghan team’s commanding performance was ignited by the aggressive power-hitting display of 21-year-old Rahmanullah Gurbaz. He scored a formidable 80 runs off 57 balls before an unfortunate run-out halted his innings.
His brilliant innings was followed by a collapse before Ikram Alikhil played a crucial knock. Alikhil guided Afghanistan’s lower-order and achieved a vital half-century in his debut match of the tournament.
Together, they transformed a target of 285 runs into a seemingly unattainable goal for England.
England’s decision to bat second, possibly anticipating a conducive batting environment under the floodlights, proved to be a miscalculation. Instead, the evening conditions played into the strengths of Afghanistan’s bowlers.
Fazalhaq Farooqi drew first blood and raised eyebrows in the England dressing room with his brilliance. His wicked, full-length inswinging ball left Jonny Bairstow in a vulnerable position, resulting in a justifiable on-field decision. Despite Bairstow’s evident disappointment, the DRS verdict confirmed the dismissal.
Dawid Malan emerged as the most composed batter for England, valiantly facing the powerplay phase with a score of 32 off 39 balls. However, Mohammad Nabi, celebrating his 150th ODI out of a possible 156 for his country ended his little cameo.
Nabi’s fourth delivery after the powerplay was a masterpiece of off-spin bowling, deceiving Malan into believing a boundary was within reach, only for Ibrahim Zadran to execute a trap at short cover.
By the 13th over, England found themselves at 68 for 3, sounding alarm bells within their camp. Despite Jos Buttler’s emphasis on an aggressive approach, he struggled to execute it effectively in the face of Afghanistan’s intimidating seamers.
Naveen-ul-Haq’s aggressive deliveries appeared to unsettle Buttler from the onset. After being beaten twice in his first four balls, Buttler’s tentative drive resulted in his stumps being shattered. The skipper added only 9 runs from 18 balls to England’s total.
The ensuing innings witnessed a surprising lack of assertiveness from England. Sam Curran seemed primarily focused on preserving his wicket, while Harry Brook fought valiantly, scoring a half-century.
As the match approached its inevitable conclusion, Reece Topley’s three consecutive fours off Farooqi provided a glimmer of resistance from England.
Nevertheless, it was a case of too little, too late. Afghanistan’s resounding victory underscored the stark contrast between their aggressive mindset and England’s hesitant approach. The final result, while impressive, only served to magnify this difference.
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