England suffer more white-ball pain after Champions Trophy exit

Joe Root century not enough as Afghanistan prevail by eight runs

Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai, on shoulder, scored a quick 41 and picked up five wickets to help defeat England in their Champions Trophy match in Lahore on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. AP

Azmatullah Omarzai of Afghanistan celebrates the wicket of England centurion Joe Root. Getty Images

Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi, left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England batter Jamie Smith for nine during their Champions Trophy match in Lahore. AFP

Joe Root scored a fine century but it was not enough as England lost to Afghanistan on Wednesday and got knocked out of the Champions Trophy. EPA

LAHORE, PAKISTAN - FEBRUARY 26: Azmatullah Omarzai of Afghanistan celebrates the wicket of Phil Salt of England (not pictured) during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match between Afghanistan and England at Gaddafi Stadium on February 26, 2025 in Lahore, Pakistan. (Photo by Sameer Ali / Getty Images)

Afghanistan's Ibrahim Zadran celebrates after reaching his century off 106 balls. AP

Ibrahim Zadran scored 177 runs off 146 balls helping Afghanistan reach 325-7 in their innings. It was the highest score in Champions Trophy history and Afghanistan's highest ODI score. EPA

England's Jofra Archer celebrates with captain Jos Buttler after taking the wicket of Afghanistan batter Rahmat Shah for four. Reuters

Afghanistan batter Hashmatullah Shahidi is bowled by England's Adil Rashid for 40. EPA

England's Joe Root takes a catch to dismiss Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan for 40 off the bowling of Liam Livingstone. Getty Images

Ibrahim Zadran's knock for Afghanistan included 12 fours and six sixes. Getty Images

England fast bowler Jofra Archer successfully appeals for lbw against Afghanistan's Sediqullah Atal who is given out for four. AP

Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz is clean bowled by England's Jofra Archer for six. AFP

A brilliant century from Joe Root was was not enough as England lost a thrilling Champions Trophy clash against Afghanistan by eight runs, ending their campaign in the group phase in Lahore on Wednesday.

Afghanistan had famously defeated England in the 2023 ODI World Cup in New Delhi and piled on more white-ball misery on their opponents in Lahore.

Root looked like taking England home in a must-win match, scoring a sensational 120 from 111 balls. However, he struggled with cramps as the innings wore on, limiting his ability to take quick runs.

Root tried to upper cut star of the day Azmatullah Omarzai but could only edge one behind, leaving England at 287-7.

Jamie Overton was England's last real hope but he holed out in the deep for a well made 32 from 28 balls.

Adil Rashid was out to the penultimate ball of the match, caught down the ground to give Omarzai his fifth wicket to go with his crucial 41 from 31 in the first innings.

England were bowled out for 317, which brought an early end to their Champions Trophy campaign after defeats to Australia and Afghanistan. They failed to progress from the first round in the 2023 ODI World Cup as well. England had also failed to defend their T20 world title last year.

Omarzai finished with 5-58, while no England batsman apart from Root made a sizeable contribution.

Afghanistan's hero of the day, however, was opener Ibrahim Zadran who continued his rise as a pillar of Afghanistan's batting.

Zadran's record innings of 177 rescued his team from an early wobble and helped post a massive 325-7 at the Qaddafi Stadium.

The Group B clash was a knockout with the losing team out of the semi-final race.

England would have thought they had the game wrapped up early when Afghanistan slipped to 37-3 inside nine overs with pace spearhead Jofra Archer breathing fire.

But this Afghanistan side is masterful at maneouvering out of a hole in Asian conditions, as they showed during an impressive run in the 2023 World Cup.

Zadran first steadied the ship with a fourth-wicket partnership of 103 with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made 40.

The 23-year-old then added 111 for the sixth wicket with veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, who hit 40 in 24 balls, to take the score past 300.

Zadran took apart the England bowling at the death and went past his previous ODI best of 162 in his 146-ball innings which included 12 fours and six sixes.

He not only broke his own record for Afghanistan's highest individual ODI score but also a tournament record, days after Ben Duckett's 165 against Australia.

It was a rough day for England in the field and Afghanistan took full advantage. Fast bowler Mark Wood picked up an injury that forced him out of the field twice.

All-rounder Liam Livingstone too complained of a foot trouble later in the innings as Jos Buttler struggled to find bowlers to complete 50 overs.

That was not the case at the start of the match as fast bowler Archer struck three early blows including two in one over starting with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who was castled for six.

Archer and Wood both operated at pace in excess of 90mph but Wood's absence after bowling just four overs allowed Zadran to rebuild alongside Shahidi.

Leg-spinner Rashid finally broke the stand as he bowled Shahidi who failed to connect an attempted reverse sweep.

Zadran reached his seventh ODI ton with a single of Livingstone as he and Omarzai changed gears in a brisk stand of 72 before Omarzai departed for 41.

Zadran kept on attacking as he hit a six and three fours off Archer. He finally fell to Livingstone, who also sent back Nabi in the final over.