Afghanistan secured a significant win against the defending champions, England, in a thrilling match held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. It was an outstanding performance by the Afghan team.
After winning the toss, England opted to field first, giving Afghanistan the opportunity to bat. Afghanistan’s opening batsmen, particularly Rahmanullah Gurbaz, exhibited exceptional skill, with Gurbaz achieving a rapid 80 runs off 57 balls.
Wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil also made a significant contribution, scoring a half-century. Lower-order batsmen Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman added valuable runs, setting a target of 285 runs for England.
Afghanistan’s trio of spin bowlers, including Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, played a pivotal role in defending this total. They exerted immense pressure on England’s batting lineup, leading to its collapse.
England’s captain, Jos Buttler, was dismissed early in the innings, and Afghanistan’s spinners continued to take wickets. Rashid Khan, in particular, posed a significant challenge for England, securing key dismissals, including Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid. Ultimately, England fell short of the target, managing only 215 runs. This remarkable victory by Afghanistan over the defending champions, England, marks an exciting start to the Cricket World Cup, emphasizing that cricket can always produce unexpected outcomes.