In a remarkable turn of events, Afghanistan secured a resounding 69-run victory over the defending champions, England, at the World Cup on Sunday. This triumph marked only their second-ever win in this prestigious tournament and lifted them from the depths of the group standings.
Afghanistan entered the match with a daunting record, having lost 16 out of their last 17 World Cup encounters, with their sole victory dating back to 2015 against Scotland. When they were put into bat, Afghanistan defied expectations, posting a commendable total of 284 runs, largely thanks to a blistering performance by opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who amassed 80 runs, and a valuable half-century from Ikram Alikhil.
However, England’s response faltered, with the team managing a meager 215 runs before being bowled out. Harry Brook was the lone batter who adapted to the challenging conditions, showcasing his resilience with 66 runs. The spin duo of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan shone, each claiming three wickets. It was Mujeeb’s crucial dismissals of Joe Root and Brook that set the stage for this historic victory, earning him the player of the match accolade.
Mujeeb expressed his pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “A very proud moment to be here in the World Cup and beating the champions; it’s a great achievement for the whole region. I’m so happy with this performance.” He acknowledged the challenges of bowling in the powerplay but credited his consistent work in the nets. The team was also well aware of the dew factor.
Rashid, sharing his sentiments, hoped that this victory would bring a smile to the faces of people back in Afghanistan, a nation grappling with the aftermath of devastating earthquakes that claimed many lives and caused severe injuries.
Afghanistan’s innings began with a dazzling 114-run opening partnership between Gurbaz and Zadran, who maintained an impressive run rate of eight an over during the initial powerplay. While Gurbaz reached his fifty rapidly, the team encountered some setbacks as leg-spinner Adil Rashid (3-42) removed Zadran and had Rahmat Shah stumped. Gurbaz, seemingly on course for a World Cup century with his eight fours and four sixes, was tragically run out due to a risky run, leaving him visibly frustrated.
Alikhil and Rashid Khan steadied the ship with a 43-run partnership, but Rashid Khan’s aggressive attempt to clear the long-on boundary in Rashid’s final over led to his dismissal. England’s Joe Root executed a remarkable dive to claim a stunning catch in the deep. Alikhil eventually departed after contributing 58 runs, while Mujeeb added 28 runs off 16 balls.
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi shared his strategic insights, mentioning, “I told the boys that 280-290 was enough on this track as it would assist the spinners.”
In the early stages of England’s innings, Fazalhaq Farooqi trapped Jonny Bairstow leg before wicket, and Mujeeb delivered a quicker ball that kept low, dislodging Root’s stumps. Dawid Malan put up a patient fight, accumulating 32 runs, but he fell victim to Mohammad Nabi’s delivery, caught by Zadran in the covers. England’s skipper, Jos Buttler, faced an exquisite delivery from Naveen-ul-Haq, which bowled him, leaving England in disarray at 91-4.
Amidst the turmoil, Harry Brook stood tall, reaching his half-century in just 45 balls with confident strokes. However, he was ultimately dismissed, caught behind off Mujeeb, triggering exuberant celebrations, followed by Rashid’s cleanup of the tail.
Jos Buttler acknowledged the defeat, remarking, “Disappointing, a tough loss to take. Congratulations to Afghanistan; they outplayed us today. We were not at the level we wanted to be with the ball and the bat.”
As it stands, England currently occupies the fifth position in the group standings with one victory in three matches, narrowly ahead of Afghanistan.
