“The first Afghan to score a century in an ICC event—and he made it count!”
Lahore, February 28: Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran etched his name in history with a phenomenal 177 off 146 balls, the highest individual score in ICC Champions Trophy history. His record-breaking innings propelled Afghanistan to a commanding 325/7 against England in their Group B clash at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Zadran not only became the first Afghan batter to score a century in the ICC Champions Trophy, but also the first-ever Afghan player to score a century in any ICC event—a landmark achievement for Afghanistan on the global cricket stage. His innings shattered Ben Duckett’s previous tournament record of 165.
Afghanistan’s Batting Masterclass
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Afghanistan faced early setbacks before Zadran’s historic knock changed the course of the game.
England’s Jofra Archer (3/64) struck early, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6) at 11/1. The pressure mounted as Sediqullah Atal (4) and Rahmat Shah (4) fell cheaply, leaving Afghanistan struggling at 37/3.
However, Zadran stabilized the innings alongside captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 off 67) in a crucial 103-run stand. After Shahidi’s dismissal to Adil Rashid, Afghanistan reached the 200-run mark in 37.2 overs.
The late onslaught came from Zadran’s partnerships:
- 72 runs with Azmatullah Omarzai (41 off 31, 3 sixes, 1 four)
- 111 runs with veteran Mohammad Nabi
Zadran surpassed his previous best of 162, smashing 12 fours and 6 sixes before finally falling to Liam Livingstone on the first ball of the final over.
England’s bowlers struggled to contain the Afghan attack, with Livingstone (2/28) and Archer (3/64) being the pick of the bowlers.
England’s Chase Falls Short Despite Root’s Heroics
Set a target of 326, England fell agonizingly short by 8 runs, bowled out for 317 in 49.4 overs.
Despite Joe Root’s valiant 120 off 111 balls, Afghanistan’s bowlers held their nerve in the final overs to secure a thrilling victory.
England Batting Scorecard:
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | b Azmatullah Omarzai | 12 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 92.30 |
| Ben Duckett | lbw b Rashid Khan | 38 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 84.44 |
| Jamie Smith | c Azmatullah Omarzai b Mohammad Nabi | 9 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 69.23 |
| Joe Root | c †Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Azmatullah Omarzai | 120 | 111 | 11 | 1 | 108.10 |
| Harry Brook | c & b Mohammad Nabi | 25 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 119.04 |
| Jos Buttler (c) | c Rahmat Shah b Azmatullah Omarzai | 38 | 42 | 0 | 2 | 90.47 |
| Liam Livingstone | c †Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Gulbadin Naib | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Jamie Overton | c Mohammad Nabi b Azmatullah Omarzai | 32 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 114.28 |
| Jofra Archer | c Mohammad Nabi b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 175.00 |
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai (4/56) was the standout bowler, dismissing key English batters at crucial moments. Mohammad Nabi (2/43) and Rashid Khan (1/39) played crucial roles in restricting England’s chase.
A Landmark Victory for Afghanistan
This victory is one of Afghanistan’s greatest triumphs in international cricket. Ibrahim Zadran’s historic innings and the team’s determined bowling effort ensured a famous 8-run win, keeping their semi-final hopes alive.
“We wanted to make history, and we did it today!” – Ibrahim Zadran
Afghanistan has once again proven they are a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.