The 2023 ICC ODI World Cup has sprung up multiple surprises and upsets, and the latest one came as last year’s title holders England faced a shocking defeat at the hands of minnows Afghanistan. With this resounding win, Afghanistan have climbed up to the 6th position on the points table, leaving bigger teams like Sri Lanka and Australia languishing at the bottom.
On the other hand, defending champions England find themselves in a precarious position, with just two points from three matches.
In a thrilling encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Afghanistan posted a challenging total of 284, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring a blistering 80 runs off 57 balls, laying the foundation for Afghanistan’s innings. The bowlers did the rest, and Afghanistan managed to take all ten wickets before reaching their total. The England bowlers faced a tough challenge from the Afghan batsmen, with Adil Rashid taking three crucial wickets. Mark Wood also contributed with two wickets, but Afghanistan’s determined batting effort allowed them to set a competitive target.
England’s chase got off to a shaky start as Jonny Bairstow fell for just two runs. Despite a fighting 66 from Harry Brook, England lost wickets at regular intervals. Afghanistan’s spinners, particularly Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid, made life difficult for the English batsmen. The Afghanistan bowlers showed great control, and their fielders supported them with brilliant catches and agile ground fielding. The result was that England could only manage 215 runs before being bowled out in the 41st over.
Afghanistan’s remarkable victory has not only boosted their morale but also sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. With more exciting matches on the horizon, cricket fans can expect this World Cup to be one for the books.
Here’s how the points table stands:
- India: 6 points
- New Zealand: 6 points
- South Africa: 4 points
- Pakistan: 4 points
- Afghanistan: 2 points
- England: 2 points
- Bangladesh: 2 points
- Australia: 2 points
- Sri Lanka: 0 points
- Netherlands: 0 points
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