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15-Oct-2023 16:09:00 GMT
England vs Afghanistan - 13th Match, Delhi

Afghanistan stunned England by 69 runs in World Cup

Afghanistan 284 (Gurbaz 80, Alikhil 58, Rashid 3-42) beat England 215 (Brook 66, Rashid 3-37, Rahman 3-51) by 69 runs

New Delhi: England suffered a major shock at the hands of Afghanistan in Delhi as a sorry 69-run defeat left their World Cup defence in real jeopardy.

Their first loss to Afghanistan in any format does not end England's chances but leaves them with little room for manoeuvre in their final six group stage games.

After a lacklustre bowling performance allowed Afghanistan to reach 284 all out, England's batters succumbed under the lights and were bowled out for 215.

Jonny Bairstow fell lbw to left-armer Fazalhaq Farooqi in the second over, Joe Root was bowled by Mujeeb Ur Rahman for 11 and Dawid Malan tamely chipped to extra cover.

Only Harry Brook, who made 66, offered any resistance - captain Jos Buttler the fourth to fall as he was comprehensively bowled by seamer Naveen-ul-Haq.

England's wayward seamers had earlier gifted Afghanistan a platform of 100-0 after 13 overs - opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz crashing 80 from 57 balls.

Adil Rashid dragged back some control with 3-42 but more loose bowling at the death, plus 58 from Ikram Alikhil took Afghanistan to a decent score.

For Afghanistan this is only their second win at a 50-over World Cup and was celebrated wildly by their loud support in the ground.

England, looking to defend the title they won so memorably four years ago, have now lost two of their opening three games and play in-form South Africa next on Saturday in Mumbai.

England's wayward start allowed Afghanistan to take 79 runs from the first 10 overs, the most expensive powerplay in the first innings of the tournament so far.

Classy right-hander Gurbaz played well but Woakes, and Sam Curran, who replaced him after three overs for 30 runs, repeatedly offered far too much width.

Woakes conceded 41 runs from four wicketless overs. Curran's four returned figures of 0-46.

Only Reece Topley offered control at the start, but even he was culpable later on in bowling four of England's 14 wides and no-balls.

In between, Rashid looked to have dragged England back. He bowled a maiden straight after the first drinks break and then had opener Ibrahim Zadran caught at mid-wicket and Rahmat Shah stumped in the space of seven balls.

Gurbaz was then crazily run out by his captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, allowing Liam Livingstone and Joe Root to help Rashid turn the screw with a wicket apiece.

Still, the 46th over bowled by Curran cost 18 and gave Afghanistan momentum which England were never able to wrestle back.


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