“We believed, we fought, and we conquered!” – Ibrahim Zadran
Lahore, February 28: Afghanistan kept their semi-final hopes alive with a thrilling eight-run victory over England, knocking the defending champions out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With this win, Group B is now a three-way battle between Afghanistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka for the last semi-final spot.
The victory was built on Ibrahim Zadran’s record-breaking 177 off 146 balls, the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history, and Azmatullah Omarzai’s brilliant five-wicket haul, which derailed England’s chase of 326 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Zadran’s Historic Knock Puts Afghanistan on Top
Winning the toss and batting first, Afghanistan faced early trouble at 37/3, but Zadran anchored the innings with crucial partnerships:
- 103 runs with Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 off 67)
- 72 runs with Azmatullah Omarzai (41 off 31)
- 111 runs with Mohammad Nabi, who provided a late flourish
Zadran’s blazing 177 (12 fours, 6 sixes) surpassed Ben Duckett’s previous record of 165, helping Afghanistan post a commanding 325/7.
Jofra Archer (3/64) and Liam Livingstone (2/28) were the pick of England’s bowlers.
England’s Chase: Azmatullah Omarzai Wreaks Havoc
England’s chase was anchored by Joe Root (120 off 111 balls), but Afghanistan’s bowlers struck at key moments to keep them in the game.
- Phil Salt (12) was bowled early by Omarzai
- Ben Duckett (38) was trapped lbw by Rashid Khan
- Jamie Smith (9) and Harry Brook (25) fell cheaply
- Jos Buttler (38) and Root put up an 83-run stand before Omarzai dismissed the England skipper
With 13 needed off the last over, Omarzai held his nerve and dismissed Adil Rashid, sealing a famous victory for Afghanistan.
“We never gave up. This team has the heart to fight till the last ball.” – Azmatullah Omarzai
Group B: A Three-Way Semi-Final Battle
With this result, England is eliminated, and the race for the last semi-final spot is now between:
✅ Afghanistan (1 win, 1 loss)
✅ South Africa (1 win, 1 loss)
✅ Sri Lanka (1 win, 1 loss)
The final round of Group B matches will decide who advances to the semi-finals, making this one of the most intense finishes in Champions Trophy history.