In a major upset, underdogs Afghanistan stunned defending champions England by 69 runs in the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Sunday. The match, played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, saw Afghanistan post a competitive total of 285 runs after being asked to bat first.
Gurbaz and Spinners Power Afghanistan to Shock 69-Run Win Over Favorites
The hero for Afghanistan was opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who smashed a quickfire 80 runs off just 57 balls. His aggressive knock set the tone for Afghanistan’s innings. Wicketkeeper-batsman Ikram Alikhil also contributed with a steady half-century. Lower order flourishes from Rashid Khan (23) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (28) helped Afghanistan put up 285/7 on the board. Additionally, you can also read about- The Most Intense Cricket World Cup Rivalries Through History
England Stumble Against Spin Onslaught
In reply, England’s star-studded batting lineup struggled against Afghanistan’s trio of quality spinners. Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi gave Afghanistan an early breakthrough by dismissing opener Jonny Bairstow cheaply. Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman then knocked over Joe Root and Dawid Malan.
Leg-spinner Rashid Khan joined the party by castling Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid. England kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Despite Harry Brook’s counter-attacking 66, England could only manage 215 in their full quota of overs. If you want you can also read- ICC World Cup 2023 Afghanistan Team Analysis and Predictions
For Afghanistan, this famous win over one of the tournament favorites will be a huge confidence booster. Their spinners answered skipper Mohammad Nabi’s call by running through England’s batting.
After losing their first two games, Afghanistan have announced their arrival in the World Cup with this statement victory. For England, it’s back to the drawing board as they look to bounce back from this shocking defeat.
You May Find Interest: ICC World Cup 2023 England Team Analysis
