BREAKING: England eliminated from Champions Trophy by Afghanistan with 8-run defeat

Afghanistan have pulled off a major upset here in the Champions Trophy by defeating England by 8 runs. Batting first, the underdogs posted a humongous total of 325/7 after 50 overs thanks to an incredible knock of 177 runs by Ibrahim Zadran.

In reply, England got bundled out for 317 runs in 49.5 overs. Azmatullah Omarai was the star performer for Afghanistan in the bowling department, picking up a highly impressive 5-wicket haul. Joe Root’s fantastic innings of 120 runs went in vain as the Three Lions became the third side after Bangladesh and Pakistan to get eliminated from the tournament.

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Afghanistan now have two points and will have to beat Australia in their final group match to entertain the hopes of reaching the last four.

For a long time, England’s chase merely rattled along as the dismissal of Phil Salt and Jamie Smith jolted them early. They were 30/2 then, and eventually were bundled out at 317 with a ball to spare as pacer Omarzai (5/58) struck at crucial junctures.

Root’s century brought stability to the England innings. His 68-run partnership with Ben Duckett and an 83-run stand with skipper Jos Buttler kept the Three Lions afloat and kept them in the vicinity of the required run-rate.

Root’s was a clever innings, as he hardly hit any ball in anger but still managed a strike-rate close to 100, and at times above 100.

But there those little flourishes which are so central to a Root innings such as a reverse sweep four off wrist spinner Noor Ahmad or a scooped six behind wicketkeeper off Fazalhaq Farooqi.

He brought up his 17th ODI hundred with a single off Rashid Khan, and looked to stay on. But a rather tired ramp off pacer Omarzai ended in the gloves of keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

But England had another willing soldier in Jamie Overton (32, 28b), who added precious 54 runs for the seventh wicket, however Omarzai ended his entertaining innings as well.

The Three Lions have now become the third team after Bangladesh and hosts Pakistan to get eliminated from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. On the other hand, this victory will be a major boost to morale for Afghanistan, who will now be looking to cause another upset against Australia in their final group stage match.