England have been dumped out of the ICC Champions Trophy by Afghanistan after agonisingly falling short in their effort to chase down 326.
Ibrahim Zadran produced the highest-ever knock in the competition's history, hitting 177 as Afghanistan rallied from a poor start to make 325-7 off their 50 overs.
Joe Root responded with a century of his own, making 120, but it was all in vain as Afghanistan closed out one of their most famous wins by an eight-run margin, eliminating England with a game to spare.
While Afghanistan need to beat Australia to progress through to the semi-finals, England will be merely playing for pride when they meet South Africa.
How did match pan out?
The highest individual score in Champions Trophy history ✅
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 26, 2025
What an innings from Ibrahim Zadran 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DNCrPw5Qe9
Despite having lost the toss, England would have fancied their chances of prevailing in Lahore, their hopes bolstered by Jofra Archer reducing Afghanistan to 37-3.
However, Ibrahim stood firm to produce one of the greatest innings in one-day international history, the 23-year-old hitting 177 from 146 balls in an innings that featured 12 fours and six maximums.
Liam Livingstone dismissed the opener in the final over, yet it was too little too late. Hashmatullah Shahidi (40), Azmatullah Omarzai (41) and Mohammad Nabi (40) all supported Zadran to take Afghanistan to an imposing total.
The fast start to their reply that England required did not materialise, Phil Salt (12) and Jamie Smith (9) out by 6.1 overs, and it left the remainder of the order with an uphill task.
Root did his part, lasting almost three hours for his 120 from 111 deliveries, but Harry Brook (25) and Jos Buttler (38) were only at the crease for 63 balls between them.
Jamie Overton chipped away for 32 from 28, but wickets were falling at regular intervals, Omarzai posting figures of 5-58.
His final wicket came from the penultimate ball, England left eight runs short and facing the criticism that will follow with Buttler to contemplate what could prove to be his final game as ODI captain.
Darren Plant
