Afghanistan stun England to register first-ever win against them

Fifties from Gurbaz, Alikhil helped Afghanistan reach 284

Web Desk

Updated 15 Oct, 2023

Sports

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Afghanistan - Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, India - October 15, 2023 Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman celebrates after bowling out England’s Chris Woakes - REUTERS

Afghanistan’s Ikram Alikhil in action during the World Cup match against England at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, India on October 15, 2023 - Reuters

Afghanistan shocked England by beating the defending champions by 69 runs in their World Cup game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi in India on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 285, the England side was all-out on 215 in the 41st over of their innings as Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan took three wickets each.

England batsman Harry Brook was out after scoring 66 runs as Afghanistan inched closer to World Cup victory over the defending champions.

The defending champions were 177 for the loss of 8 wickets and Adil Rashid and Mark Wood were in the middle as they were in pursuit of a 285-run winning target.

The top scorer for England, Brook registered his second ODI fifty off 45 balls with seven fours while opening batter Dawid Malan managed to add 32 runs to the total.

No other batter of England managed to stay at the crease as they keep falling to the mix of Afghan spin and pace bowlers.

Afghanistan were all out for 284 runs with one ball of the innings remaining in their World Cup match against defending champions England at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi in India on Sunday.

Afghan opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz smashed a 33-ball half-century after Afghanistan were put to bat first by the England skipper Jos Buttler.

The 21-year-old Gurbaz clubbed seven fours and two sixes to reach his third ODI fifty before Afghanistan reached 100 without loss of any wicket.

He was run-out on 80 while Ikram Alikhil made 58 off 66 balls to help the Afghan side reach a respectable total.

England Adil Rashid took three wickets, conceding 42 runs in his 10 overs. Mark Wood sent two Afghan batters to the pavilion. He conceded 50 runs in his nine overs.

England came into the game after a loss to New Zealand and victory over Bangladesh while Afghanistan suffered heavy defeats by six wickets to Bangladesh and eight wickets to India.

The two countries have only met twice before with England winning convincingly on both occasions – by nine wickets at the 2015 World Cup in Sydney and 150 runs in Manchester four years ago.

(With input from AFP)

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