Afghanistan scripted history in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as they defeated England by eight runs in a thrilling Group B encounter at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Ibrahim Zadran smashed a record-breaking 177, while Azmatullah Omarzai’s five-wicket haul sealed England’s fate, knocking them out of the tournament.
Zadran’s historic 177 sets a new Champions Trophy record
Afghanistan’s opener Ibrahim Zadran delivered a sensational performance, scoring 177 off 146 balls, the highest individual score in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy. His knock surpassed England’s Ben Duckett’s 165 earlier in the tournament and played a crucial role in Afghanistan posting a strong total of 325/7 in 50 overs.
The Afghan batter dominated England’s bowling attack, smashing 12 boundaries and six sixes. His innings provided Afghanistan with a solid foundation, ensuring they set a formidable target for the opposition.
Azmatullah’s match-winning five-wicket haul
With England looking on course to chase the target, Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai turned the game around with a stunning five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5/58. His performance put him fourth on the list of most five-wicket hauls for Afghanistan in ODIs.
Azmatullah’s final breakthrough came when he dismissed Adil Rashid in the last over, as Ibrahim Zadran fittingly took the catch to seal the victory.
England’s campaign ends in heartbreak
England fought hard in their chase, with Joe Root scoring a century after nearly five years in ODIs. However, despite Root’s 120 and late cameos from Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer, England fell short by eight runs, finishing on 317/10 in 49.5 overs.
With this loss, England are officially eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, while Afghanistan keeps their semifinal hopes alive.