February 26th 2025.
In a thrilling match between Afghanistan and England at the Champions Trophy, opener Ibrahim Zadran stole the show with an impressive innings of 177 runs. His century was a testament to his skill and determination, coming off just 146 balls. Zadran received excellent support from his teammates throughout the match, particularly from skipper Hashmathullah Shahidi, with whom he formed a partnership of 103 runs for the fourth wicket. He also shared a valuable 72-run stand with Azmatullah Omarzai for the fifth wicket.
But perhaps the most crucial partnership of the match was between Zadran and Mohammed Nabi, who added 111 runs for the sixth wicket. This partnership put England in a difficult position and kept the Afghan team's hopes alive in the tournament. The winner of this match would have a chance to qualify for the semifinals from Group B, while the loser would be eliminated from the competition.
However, Afghanistan did not have the best start in such a high-stakes game after choosing to bat first. England's fast bowler Jofra Archer displayed his pace and accuracy, causing trouble for the Afghan batsmen in the first 10 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the first to fall, dragging an Archer delivery back onto his stumps while trying to play a drive. Sediquallah Atal was trapped in front, and Rahmat Shah was caught by Adil Rashid at square leg, leaving Afghanistan reeling at 37 for three in the Power Play.
Zadran and Shahidi then worked to stabilize the innings, taking a cautious approach. But once Zadran reached his half-century off 65 balls, he began to play more aggressively. He even hit Jamie Overton for two consecutive boundaries, signaling a change in momentum. Despite Shahidi's dismissal while attempting a reverse sweep, Zadran continued to dominate the English bowling attack.
Zadran's partnership with Azmatullah Omarzai proved to be a turning point for Afghanistan, as they both went after the English bowlers with a fierce determination. England also had to deal with an injury to their pacer Mark Wood, who could only bowl eight overs and spent some time off the field during the Afghan innings.
Zadran's sixth ODI hundred came off just 106 balls, and he didn't stop there. He went on to hit Overton for a massive six and three boundaries in one over, reaching the 150-run mark for the second time in his career. Even after Omarzai's departure, Zadran continued to pile on the runs, smashing Archer for four consecutive boundaries to bring up Afghanistan's total to 325 runs.
In the final 10 overs, Afghanistan's batting prowess was on full display, with Zadran and Nabi scoring at a rate of over 11 runs per over. England's bowlers struggled to contain the Afghan batsmen, conceding a whopping 113 runs in the final stretch of the match. Zadran eventually fell to Liam Livingstone in the last over, but by then, he had already done enough damage.
Unfortunately for England, even Livingstone had to leave the field due to a hamstring injury. The Afghan team's remarkable performance had put them in a strong position, while England's chances of making it to the semifinals were looking bleak. Overall, it was a thrilling match that showcased Zadran's incredible talent and Afghanistan's fighting spirit.
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