Afghanistan have caused the sensation of the Champions Trophy by knocking England out with a nail-biting eight-run win in Lahore — and now they’ll set their sights on eliminating Australia too.
The Afghans prevailed in a thriller at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, Ibrahim Zadran smashing the tournament’s highest-ever score of 177 in their 7-325 before England fell just short, bowled out for 317, despite Joe Root’s superb 120.
The victory sparked ecstatic celebrations from tournament debutants Afghanistan, who now face Australia in the final group B match at the same stadium on Friday, knowing they’ll seal a place in a second-straight semi-final of an ICC showpiece after last year’s T20 World Cup should they beat Steve Smith’s side.
Victory is a must for Australia on their quest for a third title as it would seal their place in the last-four, but defeat to the Afghans would send Smith’s men spinning out of the tournament should South Africa then beat demoralised England in Saturday’s final group B match.
Currently, Australia are on three points alongside South Africa, but lagging behind on net run-rate (2.140 to 0.475) with Afghanistan on two points with a minus-0.990 nrr.
For England, though, who also lost their opener to Australia in Lahore, the defeat simply represents the nadir of a terrible white-ball winter, with a big question mark now over the future of captain Jos Buttler.
“I don’t want to say any emotional statements right now,” Buttler said afterwards.
“For myself and the guys at the top, we should consider all possibilities.”
For Afghanistan,, who had also beaten England at the 2023 World Cup in India, there was nothing but joy, though.
“I know the whole nation will be happy,” said Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/cricket/afghans-ko-england-in-champs-trophy-now-aim-at-aussies-c-17863209
