In the annals of cricket history, there are moments that stand out as remarkable upsets, moments when the underdog triumphs over the favorite. The 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup witnessed one such moment as Afghanistan scripted a stunning 69-run victory over England in what would be the first major upset of the tournament. This historic win was just the second World Cup victory for Afghanistan, coming eight years after their last triumph against Scotland in Australia. In this blog, we delve into the details of this memorable match, analyzing the key moments and performances that led to Afghanistan’s remarkable win.
The Toss and England’s Decision
The stage was set, and the toss played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the match. England, the defending champions, won the toss and opted to bowl first. It was a decision that would prove significant as the Afghanistan team prepared to make history.
Afghanistan’s Historic Win
Afghanistan’s journey to this historic win began with their batting performance. Put in to bat on a wicket that had seen big runs recently, they managed to muster a decent total. However, it was their spin trio that would make all the difference in the game, reigning over the famed English batting lineup.
Early Breakthroughs
The importance of early breakthroughs in limited-overs cricket cannot be overstated, and Afghanistan got just that. Fazalhaq Farooqi set the tone by shaping one back into Jonny Bairstow, trapping him in front for just two runs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman added to England’s woes, sending Joe Root’s stumps flying with a quicker delivery. At 33/2, England found themselves in early trouble, and Afghanistan had their eyes set on something special.
Afghanistan Spinners in Control
As the game progressed, Afghanistan’s spinners continued to rise to the occasion. Dawid Malan gifted a simple catch to cover off Mohammad Nabi, and Jos Buttler was cleaned up by Naveen-ul-Haq after a jittery time in the middle. Afghanistan pressed further, with Rashid Khan snaring the big scalp of Liam Livingstone in the 21st over, leaving the defending champions reeling at 117/5.
Harry Brook’s Resistance
However, Harry Brook held the England innings together, compiling his second ODI fifty and fending off the Rashid threat admirably. But he kept running out of partners. When Nabi sent back Sam Curran, caught at slip, with the score still under 150, Afghanistan had truly stamped their authority on the game. Chris Woakes and Brook promised a revival with a secure stand, but Mujeeb broke through with a tight over, dislodging Woakes’ stumps.
Mujeeb’s All-Round Show
Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the star of the show for Afghanistan, not just with the ball but also with the bat. He came back to dismiss Brook, and the rest of the English lineup failed to counter Afghanistan’s spinners as they pulled off a memorable upset win.
England’s Top-Order Crumble
England’s top order crumbled under the relentless pressure created by Afghanistan’s bowlers. The defending champions’ second innings chase at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 was nothing short of a struggle.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s Explosive Start
Afghanistan’s innings had been anchored by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who put the defending champions in defensive mode with an onslaught that saw Afghanistan race to 45 runs inside the first six overs. With boundaries flowing from one end and Ibrahim Zadran providing a solid anchor, England couldn’t find the breakthrough they desperately needed.
Gurbaz’s Fury
Flaying criticism around their slow powerplay starts, Afghanistan dug into England’s bowling attack. Sam Curran bore the brunt of Gurbaz’s fury, with the opener smashing him for two fours and a six in the ninth over, accumulating 20 runs. Gurbaz soon completed his fifty off just 33 balls, celebrating it with an elegant uppercut off Mark Wood over the third man fence.
Adil Rashid’s Breakthrough
Adil Rashid eventually broke through for England, sending back Ibrahim Zadran in the 17th over. The batter’s attempted heave to the leg-side was safely pouched by Joe Root at mid-wicket. Rahmat Shah was out stumped off Rashid in his next over, and what was initially a minor hiccup for Afghanistan turned into a mini-collapse as Gurbaz was run out the very next ball.
Afghanistan’s Fightback Through Ikram Ali Khil
With Gurbaz gone for 80 and Afghanistan losing three wickets in three overs, England sensed an opening to come back into the game. Part-time spinners Liam Livingstone and Joe Root struck in between some lusty hits from Azmatullah Omarzai and Ikram Ali Khil. Afghanistan found themselves five down in the 33rd over, with the score still under 200.
Ikram Ali Khil’s Crucial Knock
However, if England hoped to run through Afghanistan’s lower middle-order, that didn’t quite materialize. Ikram Ali Khil held his end up quite well, and Mark Wood managed to bounce out Mohammad Nabi, but Rashid Khan curbed his instincts to ensure Ali Khil had decent company heading into the death overs.
Joe Root’s Stunning Catch
It took a gem of a catch from Joe Root near the ropes for England to break the 43-run stand between Ali Khil and Rashid Khan, with the latter falling to his namesake from the England side. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, though, got going for Afghanistan, slamming a sequence of four, four, and six off Sam Curran to push Afghanistan late in the innings. Ali Khil joined him with some cracking shots too after his half-century. England finally broke the partnership before the final two overs, but a competitive total had already been compiled. The 284 runs put on the board were Afghanistan’s second-highest score in the Cricket World Cup.
Conclusion
In the end, Afghanistan’s historic win over England in the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup was a result of excellent teamwork, especially by their spinners, and the aggressive batting display led by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ikram Ali Khil. It was a game that showcased the unpredictable nature of cricket and reminded us that in this sport, any team can rise to the occasion and create history. This victory will undoubtedly be etched in the memories of cricket fans worldwide as a testament to the spirit of the game and the determination of the underdogs to upset the established order. Afghanistan had truly arrived on the world stage of cricket, and their journey was just beginning.