ICC CWC 2023: Reigning champions England get Afghani shell shock in Delhi
In a stunning upset that reverberated throughout the cricketing world, Afghanistan secured the most significant victory in their international history at the 2023 World Cup. They outplayed England, the reigning world champions, by a commanding margin of 69 runs, showcasing a remarkable display of spin and seam bowling under the floodlights in Delhi.
The catalyst for Afghanistan’s dominance was the fearless 21-year-old Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who blazed his way to 80 runs from just 57 deliveries, promising an even bigger innings before an unfortunate run-out halted his progress.
https://twitter.com/RashiidKhann19/status/1713585607765618901
Ikram Alikhil, making his World Cup debut, then steered Afghanistan’s lower-order with a valuable half-century, helping them set a target of 285 that appeared distant and unattainable, much like England’s prospects of defending their title.
England, after winning the toss and choosing to chase, might have believed that the second half of the match would be a straightforward pursuit, akin to New Zealand’s successful chase of 283 in the tournament opener.
Rashid Khan said "Cricket is the only source of happiness in Afghanistan, recently there was an Earthquake, many lost everything, this will give them some happiness – this is for them". pic.twitter.com/NSOp3SP9kV
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 15, 2023
However, their assumptions were quickly dispelled during Afghanistan’s aggressively attacking powerplay. Afghanistan’s bowlers, particularly Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, exploited the evening conditions, making batting difficult for England from the outset.
Farooqi’s inswinger dismissed Jonny Bairstow, prompting a DRS verdict in Afghanistan’s favor. Joe Root was the next to fall in the powerplay, bowled by Mujeeb, adding to England’s troubles. Dawid Malan was the lone batter who displayed composure, managing 32 runs from 39 balls, but Mohammad Nabi’s offspin ended his innings with a cleverly executed plan.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman dedicates his Player of the Match award to those affected by the earthquake back home in Afghanistan 🙏#ENGvAFG | #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/rKdsXBZmw5
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 15, 2023
Jos Buttler, despite his recent emphasis on “attacking” play, struggled to implement his approach under challenging circumstances. His resistance was brief, and his stumps were shattered by Naveen-ul-Haq. England’s batting continued to falter, with Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran unable to find their footing.
Harry Brook’s gritty half-century and Reece Topley’s late flourish provided some resistance, but it was too late for England to mount a successful comeback. In contrast, Afghanistan displayed their power-hitting prowess by launching eight sixes, ultimately securing a resounding victory.
