Ibrahim Zadran’s breathtaking 177-run knock and Azmatullah Omarzai’s five-wicket haul overshadowed Joe Root’s masterful century, as Afghanistan knocked England out of the Champions Trophy with an 8-run victory in a high-octane clash on Wednesday.

With this defeat, England remains winless after two matches, officially bowing out of the tournament. Their final Group B match against South Africa will now be a mere formality, as the Proteas already have three points along with Australia. Meanwhile, Afghanistan now has two points and must defeat Australia in their final group game to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.

England’s Chase: Root Fights, But Omarzai Strikes at the Right Moments

Chasing 326 for victory, England’s innings never really found its rhythm. The early dismissals of Phil Salt and Jamie Smith left them struggling at 30/2, and despite Joe Root’s heroic 120, they ultimately fell 8 runs short, getting bowled out for 317 with one ball remaining.

Omarzai (5/58) delivered crucial blows at decisive moments, keeping England from gaining any momentum.

Root, however, did everything he could. His 17th ODI century (120 off 111 balls, 11 fours, 1 six) held the innings together.

• He built a 68-run partnership with Ben Duckett (38) for the third wicket.
• He then added 83 runs with captain Jos Buttler for the fifth wicket.

These weren’t rapid-fire stands, but they ensured England stayed within striking distance of the required rate.

However, the loss of Duckett and Buttler in quick succession left Root carrying the burden alone. Despite his clever stroke play—featuring his signature reverse sweeps and scoops—a tired ramp shot off Omarzai saw him caught behind, signaling the beginning of the end for England.

Jamie Overton (32 off 28 balls) fought hard, adding a 54-run stand for the seventh wicket, but a mistimed heave off Omarzai sealed England’s fate, marking the end of their Champions Trophy journey.

Zadran’s Masterclass Sets Up Afghanistan’s 325/7

Batting first, Afghanistan posted a formidable 325/7, thanks to a stunning innings by Ibrahim Zadran. His majestic 177 off 146 balls (12 fours, 6 sixes) was the backbone of their innings.

Despite a shaky start at 37/3 in the Powerplay, Zadran led Afghanistan’s resurgence with vital partnerships:

• 103-run stand with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 off 67 balls) for the fourth wicket.
• 72-run stand with Azmatullah Omarzai (41 off 31 balls) for the fifth wicket.
• 111-run explosion with Mohammad Nabi (40 off 24 balls) for the sixth wicket.

The early blows were dealt by Jofra Archer (3/64), who rattled Afghanistan inside the first 10 overs:

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz dragged an Archer delivery onto his stumps.
• Sediqullah Atal was trapped lbw.
• Rahmat Shah miscued a pull straight to Adil Rashid at square leg.

However, Zadran stood firm. Once past his fifty off 65 balls, he shifted gears, taking on Jamie Overton and Adil Rashid with some exquisite stroke play.

Shahidi’s departure—courtesy of a reverse sweep gone wrong—brought Omarzai to the crease, and together they turned the heat up on England.

Even after Omarzai’s dismissal, Zadran was relentless. He smashed Archer for 6, 4, 4, 4 in an over and stormed past his 150-run mark for the second time in his career.

• His fireworks, combined with Nabi’s aggressive 40 off 24 balls, powered Afghanistan to 113 runs in the last 10 overs.
• England’s bowling unit, already struggling, was further weakened as Mark Wood’s knee injury limited him to just eight overs.
• Zadran’s marathon knock ended in the final over when he fell to Liam Livingstone, but by then, Afghanistan had already set a daunting total.

A Historic Win for Afghanistan, A Forgettable Exit for England

Afghanistan’s thrilling win marks yet another historic milestone for the rising cricketing nation, while England’s lackluster campaign ends in disappointment.

As the final group matches loom, Afghanistan’s fate now rests on their performance against Australia—a match that could decide their entry into the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, England will face South Africa, knowing that their Champions Trophy dream is already over.

For Afghanistan, the journey continues. For England, it’s a bitter farewell.