Afghanistan registered the first biggest upset of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as they stunned defending Champions England by 69 runs at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on 15th October 2023. It was a brilliant bowling performance by the Afghanistan bowlers as they kept picking wickets at regular intervals not allowing the England batters to score runs easily.
Defending 285 runs to win, it was an ideal start for Afghanistan bowlers as Farqooi got rid of dangerous Jonny Bairstow hitting in front of the wickets. Joe Root and Malan looked steady enough putting the bad deliveries away for boundaries. Mujeeb Ur Rahman got rid of Root with a lovely delivery hitting stumps. Root and Malan added 31 runs for the 2nd wicket. At the end of 10 overs, England made 52 for 2.
Nabi struck dismissing Malan with a simple catch to Ibrahim Zadran leaving England on the backfoot. Malan and Brook added 35 runs for the 3rd wicket. The Afghanistan bowlers kept picking wickets at regular intervals putting enough pressure on England batters. Brook looked in decent touch completing his fifty off 45 deliveries. After his dismissal, England struggled against top-quality Afghanistan bowling.
Mark Wood and Reece Topley provided some entertainment before Rashid Khan dismissed Topley to bowl out England for 215. Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman took 3 wickets each, Nabi 2, Naveen UL Haq, and Farqooi 1 wicket each. For his 28 off 16 balls and wickets, Mujeeb Ur Rahman was named the player of the match award.
England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and decided to field first. Rahmanullah Gurbaz looked in prime form putting pressure on England bowlers, especially Woakes. He showed intent on keeping the momentum going for Afghanistan. Gurbaz and Ibrahim made the batting look comfortable. Gurbaz reached fifty off 33 deliveries. Adil Rashid eventually got a breakthrough dismissing Zadran. Gurbaz and Zadran added 114 runs for the opening wicket.
Afghanistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals to be in deep trouble at 190 for 6. Rashid Khan scored some valuable runs putting pressure on England bowlers. Ikram Akhil played a vital hand reaching fifty off 61 deliveries. Mujeeb Ur Rahman looked in brilliant touch taking on Sam Curran and hit a quickfire knock as Afghanistan were bowled out for 284 from 49.5 overs.
Absolutely shocking from England.
— ENIC OUT (@nad_THFC) October 15, 2023
With this defeat against Afghanistan, England has become the first team to lose against all other 11 Test playing teams in the World Cup. #AFGvsENG #AFGvENG #CWC #CWC2023
— pratap purohit🇮🇳🇮🇳🏏 (@Pratap1808) October 15, 2023
Congratulations Afghanistan have trounced the defending champions England by 69 runs! ✨
Afghanistan also end a 14-match losing streak in World Cups with that phenomenal show! ⚡️👏
that greatest-ever win ❤️🇦🇫❤️ pic.twitter.com/b3iQ2cQsd0
— 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐧🇦🇫 (@hrh1010) October 15, 2023
https://twitter.com/Zohaibby/status/1713590540997189653?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1713590540997189653%7Ctwgr%5E047dbf2ff8a388e9f83e40a2fca98b9bac148fdc%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.ndtv.com%2Ficc-cricket-world-cup-2023%2Fcricket-world-cup-2023-absolutely-shocking-world-reacts-as-afghanistan-stun-england-for-historic-win-4483849
Big upset of this ICC World Cup 💥
Afghanistan beat defending champion England be like 😅.
Well played Afghan Naveen-Ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, Nabi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ikram Alikhil, Harry Brook . England missed Ben stokes.#ENGvsAFG #AFGvsENG #RashidKhan pic.twitter.com/ine8iZippE
— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) October 15, 2023
AFGHANISTAN DESTROYED ENGLAND AT DELHI….!!!!🇦🇫
A moment of history in the World Cup, Their biggest day in cricket by defeating the defending Champions in the mega event. pic.twitter.com/RIwmfQj63r
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 15, 2023
Afghanistan been phenomenal. England are over before they started.
At least this is the exact blueprint of how tomorrow’s game will go…
— Sim (@simukcricket) October 15, 2023
The biggest moment in Afghanistan's cricket history. And a great example of how you accept adversity and keep looking ahead. Afghanistan remains the most memorable cricket story of our times.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 15, 2023
Salamat 🙏👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I can’t believe it. A historical win for Afghanistan 💥💥💥🇦🇫🇦🇫🇦🇫🇦🇫 https://t.co/Df5iOJF7kU
— Wazhma Ayoubi 🇦🇫 (@WazhmaAyoubi) October 15, 2023
Well done Afghanistan. That’s a top class effort to get the better of England. #ENGvAFG
Delhi! The venue again for another memorable #CWC23 match.— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) October 15, 2023
Well played Afghanistan. best side won today.
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) October 15, 2023
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