Ali Martin’s report has landed from Lahore which is my cue to make like England and depart this scene. Thanks for joining us, commiserations England and congratulations Afghanistan. That was a belting game of cricket but one side has to lose, the ramifications of England’s defeat will likely reverberate very soon.
The OBO will return… until then – goodbye.
Gareth Wilson sums up a pretty bleak mood in the OBO inbox:
“Hi Jim- it’s a tough one to take. Credit obviously to two outstanding performances by Ibrahim with the bat and Azmat with the ball for Afghanistan.
But for England, just sub par all through the team except for Root. Every other batter was out to a bad shot, which statistically is incredible. As for the bowling- you know you’re in trouble when Livingstone is the best of the bunch.
Team selection and strategy all wrong- so even the management has questions to answer.
So so poor.”
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi speaks:
As a team we are happy and I’m sure the whole nation will be happy with this win.
The first time we beat them (England) was in the 2023 World Cup. I keep saying that we are improving day by day as a team and that’s what we’ve showed at the last couple of World Cups. Today it was a tense game but we controlled it really well. I’m happy with the result.”
Oh, he’s absolutely brilliant! (On Zadran’s 177 with the bat) A really talented guy. When we were three down at the beginning it was too much pressure but the partnership me and Ibrahim did was special. I think it was one of the best ODI innings I have ever seen.”
“The beauty of our team is we have talented youngsters and at the same time we have senior guys who are at the top level. Every knows their own roles of what they should do in this team. Hopefully we take this momentum with us for the next game against Australia.”
A really deflated Jos Buttler speaks:
It’s really disappointing. I thought we had our chances in the game. Another fantastic game of cricket, but disappointing to come out on the wrong side.
They got away from us there in the last 10 overs. Credit to Ibrahim, he played a fantastic innings. If we look back and reflect, 113 off the last 10 pushed them up to a score that was a very good score on that pitch.
(Joe Root) played an unbelievable innings tonight. He showed the way to handle pressure in a run-chase. He needed one of the other top six batters to stay in with him and take the game deeper.”
On his future:
I don’t want to say any emotional statements right now. But I think for myself and the other guys at the top, we should consider all possibilities.”
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What an incredible result for Afghanistan. They held their nerve when England lost theirs. They will now play Australia on Friday and a win will see them through to the semi finals.
Ibrahim Zadran took the winning catch to bookend a brilliant performance:
I wanted to grab one good catch for the team! I batted for 50 overs and wanted to field well for the team. When I grabbed it, that feeling… wow, we won the game.
It means a lot to me… as much as you work hard, I had trusted in myself. I wanted to bat longer and longer. That 177 is a special moment for me.
We’ll try and play better cricket in the next game. We’re going to play against Australia and we’ll try not to do too many mistakes. We’ll have a plan for the next game.”
You have to feel for Joe Root who is cutting a particularly disconsolate figure right now. In truth, he pretty much kept England in that chase single-handedly with other batters getting in and getting out once more. Buttler, Overton, Brook and Duckett all gave it away when well set. It’s been a familiar tale for England of late, they’ve now lost nine of their ten white ball matches this year and have slipped to seventh position in the ODI rankings. Poor old Jos Buttler will have to speak shortly in full knowledge that the knives are going to be out for him. I sincerely doubt he’ll flash us a smile.
Afghanistan win by 8 runs!
Adil Rashid is out! Caught on the fence going for the maximum but didn’t quite have the legs! Afghanistan win and are jubilant, what scenes in Lahore. England are OUT and look absolutely crushed. It was a great game, twists and turns to the end.
WICKET! Adil Rashid c Ibrahim Zadran b Azmatullah Omarzai 5 (England ALL OUT and OUT of the Champions Trophy)
Azmatullah Omarzai finishes with quite remarkable figures of 5 for 58 on an absolute road of a wicket. He’ll challenge teammate Ibrahim Zadran’s epic 177 for player of the match. Not that either will care, Afghanistan keep their tournament hopes alive and their absolute joy and relief is in stark contrast to the haunted looks of despair and desolation written on the faces of Jos Buttler and his men.
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Wood can’t find the boundary either, NINE OFF TWO NEEDED FOR ENGLAND.
Boundaries needed… Rashid can’t get one, a plink into the off side and IT IS JUST A SINGLE.
Wood somehow scampers a single with a thrash to point. Just a single. Just a single! 11 from 4.
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A single down the ground to Rashid. 12 from 5. Wood on strike.
49th over: England 313-9 (Rashid 3, Wood) Can Wood even get back for two runs? Rashid might have to do this by himself, boundaries only. I’ll ball by ball it for the last over. What a game!
Wood defends and it is a dot ball. 13 from 6 balls with Adil Rashid on strike.
13 off 7 balls needed for England – Mark Wood will be on strike. 1 wicket required for Afghanistan. England’s tournament and Jos Buttler’s captaincy very much on the line right here.
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WICKET! Jofra Archer c Mohammad Nabi b Fazalhaq Farooqi 14 (England nine down!)
Jofra is caught in the deep! Nabi takes the catch, the 40 year old settles under the steepler and takes it cleanly with nerves of steel. A toe end from Archer as he went for the big one. England on the brink… here comes a quite possibly knee knacked Mark Wood as their last hope.
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48th over: England 310-8 (Archer 13, Rashid 1) Here’s Adil Rashid. He takes a single off his first ball with a defensive prod. He’ll keep strike for the penultimate over. Fantastic bowling from Azmatullah Omarzai who now has four wickets – 4-54 on a shirt front of a wicket and under intense pressure.
16 from 12 plays two wickets. One of England and Afghanistan are going out very shortly. It’s a matter of who can hold their nerve and nail the big moment now.
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WICKET! Overton c Mohammad Nabi b Azmatullah Omarzai 32 (England 309-8)
This is not over yet! Jamie Overton is caught at long on. England need 17 from 13. Afghanistan need JUST TWO WICKETS.
I am calm.
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Archer is nearly caught spectacularly in the deep at wide mid off by Rashid Khan! A great effort to get to it and make the attempt but it goes down as a drop. England breathe a huge sigh of relief and then it is fist pumps all round as Overton pulls the next ball powerfully for four!
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47th over: England 301-7 (Overton 27, Archer 11) Archer hustles for two and make it home. Farooqi pitches fuller but no sign of his yorker yet, that’s such an effective ball for him. Four! Jofra gets an inside edge and it flies past the stumps and past the keeper for four. Ten runs off the over in total for England.
25 runs needed from 18 balls. Want to hear something quite exciting? In the event of a tie we’ll have a – your friend and mine – Super Over!
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46th over: England 291-7 (Overton 21, Archer 4) Root walked off the field very slowly and gingerely, he’d been running on empty for a while. Jofra’s first shot might perk him up though – a crunching back foot punch for four. Just like that.
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Joe Root c Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Azmatullah Omarzai (England 287-7)
England are going to have to do this the hard way, without Joe Root. Absolute scenes in Lahore as Root attempts a back cut off Azmatullah but the effort ball from the bowler had too much spice on it, the glove is taken and Gurbaz swallows the catch!
England need 39 from 25 balls and Jofra Archer joins Jamie Overton in the middle.
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JOE ROOT IS OUT!
Root hobbles a couple as Overton pulls into the leg side. Nurse! Another quick single gets Root on strike. Shot! Great hands from Root as he manipulates a slower ball round the corner for four. Overton is playing his part too, he calls Root through for another two with a drop into the leg side, Root has just enough in the tank to get home. Huge moment incoming though…
45th over: England 278-6 (Root 114, Overton 21) Ten off the over, the incredible ramped six and four singles that Root labours through. He is really struggling with cramp now. Root attempts another reverse-hit off the last ball and gets a tiny tickle on it but it lands short of Gurbaz. No guts no glory eh.
England need 48 from 30 deliveries. Afghanistan need wickets.
WHAT A SHOT! Root plays a Dilscoop ramp shot off his nose and from waaay outside off stump that soars over the keeper and away for SIX! Remarkable.
44th over: England 268-6 (Root 107, Overton 18) Rashid Khan into his last over. Root is cramping up quite badly but plays him with real skill as he has done all match. Seven runs worked off the over as Afghanistan start to show a few nerves, a few shouts and screams between players out there.
43rd over: England 261-6 (Root 102, Overton 16) Jamie Overton comes to the party with two welcome and well timed boundaries clutched in each hand. He may as well be the Fonz for England right now. Farooqi is too short and Overton uses his long levers and sizeable muscles to pull away for consecutive fours. Ten off the over. It’s an optimal time for Overton to turn up, Root has taken some fluids on board to keep cramp at bay for the final assualt.
42nd over: England 251-6 (Root 101, Overton 7) Rashid Khan back into the attack with two overs up his sleeve.
Root tucks into the leg side to get the single he needs for his 17th ODI hundred and his first in six years! A muted celebration, Root is only interested in getting the job done for his team. If he gets out then England are pretty much cooked. That’s a damn fine knock though and under serious pressure.
Six runs in total off the over. Khan just has one left now.
England need 75 from 48 balls.
41st over: England 245-6 (Root 99, Overton 3) Sad eyed Jos of the low scores watches on anxiously from the England dug out. It’s a cruel game at times. That’ll perk him up a little – Root pulls with panache to the midwicket fence to get four. Some nervy/spunky running sees nine runs pocketed off the over. Root goes to 99 in the process. 81 off 54…
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40th over: England 236-6 (Root 91, Overton 2) Noor Ahmad gets his second (and final) warning for running on the danger zone. Umpire Joel Wilson ticking him off like a stern schoolmaster. Overton can’t rotate strike, he soaks up four dot balls after a Root single. Run rate creeping up to near nine an over.
39th over: England 235-6 (Root 90, Overton 2) Jamie Overton joins Joe Root in the middle and clips for two into midwicket.
England need 91 needed from 66 balls. Afghanistan need four wickets.
Do you need a drink?!
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WICKET! Livingstone c Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Gulbadin Naib 10 (England 233-6)
Afghanistan go to pace, Gulbadin is thrown the ball. Livingstone drives for four but then nicks off going for a full blown cut shot and is caught behind by a joyous Gurbaz. We’re going to the wire aren’t we?
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38th over: England 228-5 (Root 90, Livingstone 6) Afghanistan go on the attack with a slip in place to Livingstone. Love that. Noor Ahmad beats him with a googly that Livingstone pokes at tentatively. A single down the ground brings Root on strike. Shot! Root nails a reverse sweep off the last ball to pick up four. Root of the Rovers stuff this.
37th over: England 220-5 (Root 84, Livingstone 4) Crikes! Livingstone off the mark with an edge for four. England will take them however which way and loose. The game goes back to dancing on a knife edge.
Liam Livingstone joins Root with England needing 110 from 79 balls. He looked to have pulled a calf in the field, will he be able to bat… yes I am pausing over the word ‘properly’.
WICKET! Buttler c Rahmat Shah b Azmatullah Omarzai 38 (England 216-5)
Here’s the twist! Buttler tries to flay an Azmatullah short ball to the fence for six but a top edge sees him caught in the deep! Big wicket. I repeat BIG WICKET.
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36th over: England 214-4 (Root 83, Buttler 37) Rashid Khan puts the squeeze on, rattling through his first five balls for just two runs. Pressure cooker hissing a little in England’s ear. Cometh the moment, cometh the Root – Khan drops short and Root slaps away for four like an 80s bass player.
35th over: England 208-4 (Root 78, Buttler 36) Azmatullah replaces a limping Farooqi in the attack and sends down a probing over, just five runs off it.
This is lovely from Julian Menz in the OBO mailbag:
“Cricket is a truly magnificent yet singular sport. Once you’re reeled in you’re stuck, trapped in its web. From the time you first delve into the kitbag as a kid, the fragrance of willow, linseed oil, leather, trying to fasten pads far too large, sharing a sweaty box (yes, I was a kid in the 70s/early 80s, no snide remarks please). I’m a football fan too, and you can relate to most people in most countries on that level. I have spent many years in Germany and Sweden though. My daughter and Swedish family still wonder why dad is listening to TMS, and I still have to explain that cricket is not croquet. Following the game in the wilds of Sweden now on the OBO. England look to be down and out, but thanks for the good work.”
Thank you, Julian.
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Are we going to see an all timer fifty over match here? Today’s Spin column is neatly timed if so:
34th over: England 203-4 (Root 76, Buttler 34) Rashid Khan nearly sneaks one through Root but the batter jams his bat down at the last to keep his castle in tact. We go again. Six off the over sees England’s 200 up.
England lost Duckett in the first over after the first drinks break. Rashid Khan is going to see if he can strike after the second slurp of electrolytes is over and done with.
33rd over: England 197-4 (Root 74, Buttler 30) Seven runs off the over, Joe Root is still there, accumulating with his usual class. If he stays there then England win this. I suspect this game has a few further twists and turns yet though. The players take drinks. England 129 from 17 overs. Afghanistan need to stop them getting there or take six more wickets.
32nd over: England 190-4 (Root 71, Buttler 26) One brings two! Buttler slogs Nabi into the stands at cow corner for SIX. That brings up the fifty partnership between Root and Buttler. England need 136 more runs. Don’t go anywhere.
31st over: England 181-4 (Root 69, Buttler 19) Root follows up the first six of the innings with a punch through cover for four. England coming to life after overs and overs of nervy dormancy.
30th over: England 172-4 (Root 61, Buttler 18) Buttler is cutting a haunted figure at the crease and decides to stick two fingers up to the monkey and his back and the demons in his head by smearing Nabi into the stands! That might be the moment it clicks, good footwork and execution. This is scintillating/excruciating to watch.
29th over: England 163-4 (Root 59, Buttler 11) Noor nearly cleans Buttler up with one that skids on! How much more of this can you take?!
28th over: England 160-4 (Root 57, Buttler 11) That was so close for Jos Buttler. So, so close.
Has Umpire Joel Wilson just saved Jos Buttler’s captaincy career? Or just prolonged the agony for a few overs more? Buttler looked to work Nabi into the leg side but missed and the bowler and his teammates put in a world class appeal but Wilson says no! Buttler even looks guilty but the DRS has the ball clipping the stumps and so the on field decision stands. What’s that cricketing expression? Oh yeh – ‘By the barest of margins!’
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27th over: England 153-4 (Root 52, Buttler 9) It is extremely tense out there, I can feel it all the way from Lahore to London. Ever been through Clapham Junction train station at rush hour on Monday morning? Similar vibe to that. Probably less of a whiff of three day old sausage rolls out in the middle though.
26th over: England 151-4 (Root 51, Buttler 8) Joe Root, England’s Mr Consistent, goes to his 46th ODI half century with a single off Khan. He hasn’t hit a ODI century since the 2019 World Cup, he’ll probably need to today if England are to stay in this tournament. Head down then, Joe.
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25th over: England 147-4 (Root 49, Buttler 6) Noor continues with his left arm darts, five singles off the over as England work the singles. England need 179 from the remaining 25 overs. Sounds quite a lot that at the moment.
24th over: England 142-4 (Root 46, Buttler 4) Root and Buttler are extremely watchful, playing Khan off the back foot. You could cut the tension with a fishing rod.
23rd over: England 137-4 (Root 44, Buttler 1) Rashid Khan has Buttler on toast five times in the 78 balls he’s bowled to him. I’m sure we’ll see him come back for a burst in a second or two. Noor continues for the time being and skids one past Buttler’s edge!
I wonder what Buttler, if anything, Buttler has written on the top of his bat handle…? Suggestions welcome. Here comes Rashid Khan.
22nd over: England 135-4 (Root 43, Buttler 1) Nervy times at the crease for England. Buttler takes his guard and taps down to long leg to get off the mark. Root returns the favour off the last ball of the over. Buttler will be on strike for the next. Time for a captain’s innings Jos?
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WICKET! Harry Brook c & b Mohammad Nabi 25 (England 133-4)
Harry Brook what’ve you done?! He’s looked in sublime form for his first 20 balls but gives it away with a soft tap back to the over off a nondescript delivery. Gah. That lumps a lot of pressure onto Root and the incoming Jos Buttler. Nabi can’t believe his luck.
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21st over: England 131-3 (Root 41, Brook 24) Change of overs for Noor but he fluffs his lines at the end of a decent over by flinging down a full bunger that Root slaps behind square for four.
20th over: England 124-3 (Root 36, Brook 22) Nabi is recalled after a short reprieve and does a job of tightening up the run rate for Afghanistan.
19th over: England 120-3 (Root 35, Brook 19) John Starbuck is clearly angling for a role in McCullum’s entourage… “Jim, it’s clear that all batters should aim to play out a maiden immediately after a drinks break. One for the coaches?”
Harry Brook don’t have maidens (or Georgia) on his mind as he drives Khan superbly for four. Khan has the wicket of Duckett in his back pocket but he is leaking a few too many runs at the moment, ten off his latest.
18th over: England 110-3 (Root 34, Brook 10) More Swiss clock timing from Brook as he guides another four behind point and Noor Ahmad’s first over goes for eight runs.
17th over: England 103-3 (Root 32, Brook 4) England need new man Harry Brook at his best in Lahore right here, right now. That’ll do – Brook opens the face and glides his first ball away past point for four. Rashid Khan’s snare of Duckett takes him to 199 ODI wickets.
WICKET! Duckett lbw b Rashid Khan 38 (England 98-3)
The big wicket! Duckett is pinned LBW deep in his crease in the first over after drinks. Umpire Rod Tucker said no but the bowler is adamant they send it upstairs. With good reason – pitched in line and was smashing middle stump half way up. Duckett has to go and pressure right back on England.
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16th over: England 97-2 (Duckett 38, Root 32) England tick over to drinks. An intriguing first hour of the chase. Honours about even I reckon.
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15th over: England 93-2 (Duckett 36, Root 30) Rashid Khan is still a little too short and Root and Duckett clip and nudge four runs off the first five balls. Khan wants to get out of the over cheaply but can’t as another short ball is dabbed away with aplomb by Root, in the gap and timed for four.
14th over: England 85-2 (Duckett 32, Root 25) A subdued atmosphere for the first time in the field for Afghanistan after the drop. Five added from the over as the partnership grows tentatively, as do England’s hopes.
Duckett is DROPPED at mid off! That could be a huge moment in the game as Shahidi spills a simple chance off the leading edge. Farooqi cannot believe it. That would have been England’s danger man back in the sheds.
13th over: England 80-2 (Duckett 30, Root 24) A loud cheer goes around the ground as Rashid Khan is announced over the Tannoy (brand name). Duckett swivels and times to perfection to beat the man on the square leg boundary. Khan zips the ball on but is a smidge too short and England are able to sit back and work into the gaps. Fifty partnership up off forty balls.
12th over: England 70-2 (Duckett 24, Root 20) Farooqi stitches together a neat over, mixing between full pace, slower balls and cutters to restrict England to just two singles.
11th over: England 68-2 (Duckett 23, Root 19) Four singles off Nabi and then some clever batting from Root, the fielder is moved fine at deep third before the final ball and Root immediately finds the gap with a reverse-sweep. Cat and mouse stuff in Lahore.
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10th over: England 60-2 (Duckett 20, Root 13) Shot! Duckett drives on the up for four but Azmatullah nearly has the last laugh, running his fingers down the seam to take the pace off and foxing the pint-sized opener. Duckett is too early on the shot and almost plinks a simple catch to mid-on. That’s the powerplay done and dusted. Afghanistan can begin to put a bit more of a squeeze on with the fielding restrictions lifted.
9th over: England 54-2 (Duckett 15, Root 13) England hit back through Root and Duckett. The latter clubs a drive over mid on to get four off Nabi and then cuts for a single to bring up England’s fifty. Root then plays a delicious reverse-paddle for four more past fine leg. 326 still feels a long way away, these two need to build a sizeable partnership. Do I get a KLANG on the ‘obvious cymbal’?
8th over: England 43-2 (Duckett 7, Root 9) Root provides some more much needed relief for England by pinging Azmatullah off his pads for four.
7th over: England 39-2 (Duckett 7, Root 5) Nabi is looking to skid the ball into the pads and stumps. The win-predictor is now 87% in Afghanistan’s favour. Root hangs back and punches for four in fine style and takes a few deep breaths. A single to midwicket brings Duckett on strike.
Eeeesht! Nabi nearly has two wickets in over as Duckett lines up a slap through the off side but Nabi follows him as he backs away and the ball misses everything! Beats the keeper too and England get four extras. Deep breaths all round if you are an England supporter! Or try not to breathe at all. Quite hard that one, Michael Stipe.
WICKET! Smith c Azmatullah Omarzai b Mohammad Nabi 9 (England 30-2)
Gone! Jamie Smith charges Mohammad Nabi’s first ball and skews a simple catch to point. Inexperience from Smith against the wily old performer. Have a look, son! Joe Root arrives at the crease with England teetering.
6th over: England 30-1 (Duckett 7, Smith 9) Duckett scampers down to the non-striker’s end with a leg bye. He’s been starved of the strike so far in this innings, he’s only faced ten of the first 30 odd balls. Smith whips off his pads through midwicket for four with sweet timing and then gets a single down to third with a thick outside edge.
5th over: England 24-1 (Duckett 7, Smith 4) Jamie Smith is England’s number three and he takes guard with the win-predictor digging one into his side’s ribs – Afghanistan are 79% favourites apparently. That might bring it down a little! Smith square drives to the fence to get off the mark with a four.
WICKET! Salt b Azmatullah Omarzai 12 (England 19-1)
Uh-oh. A bad shot from Salt who aims a pull into the leg side but off a ball that was much too full, he misses and the ball trims the bails, sending them skywards like a pair of quizzical eyebrows. Afghanistan are cock-a-hoop!
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3rd over: England 17-0 (Salt 11, Duckett 6) Salt gets an inside edge past the keeper for a single after clipping off the hip for a couple. Duckett whips for a brace into the leg side, his hands lower slung than a mid-noughties teenager.
2nd over: England 12-0 (Salt 8, Duckett 4) Azmatullah Omarzai from t’other end. England need to get as many as possible off the seamers in the powerplay, it’ll be trial by spin later on. Duckett gets his 1000th run in ODI cricket with a drive through cover for four. He’s England’s form player across all formats and is a prize scalp today.
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1st over: England 8-0 (Salt 8, Duckett 0) 24 year old Fazalhaq Farooqi will start with new ball for Afghanistan. Phil Salt is on strike. Play!
The left-arm seamer bustles in and his first ball is a half volley that Salt slaps away through cover for four! A nerve settler for Salt and England. Farooqi comes round the wicket and cramps Salt for room but serves up a length ball with enough width for Salt to free his arms and clatter away for another boundary. Beaten! The bowler then gets it spot on with a ball that shapes away late and slides past Salt’s edge. A dot finishes the first over and there’s reasons to be cheerful for both sides. One, two, three.
Afghanistan’s players huddle on the boundary edge as the floodlights beat down. It’s a good pitch but the pressure is very much on England. Both sides need win to stay alive in the tournament.
Here come Ben Duckett and Phil Salt, how’s your ticker? Let the chase begin.
Thanks Daniel and hello everyone. The next few hours will prove very interesting. England have to show some bottle and dig deep here with both their tournament hopes and their captain’s job on the line. Afghanistan will have their tails up and this will not be easy. I have a feeling it won’t be pretty (for England) either.
He’s too modest to toot his own horn but have a read of Dan’s excellent Spin column whilst the players wolf down their energy bars. Reckon we’re in for a fifty over classic right here?
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With that I’ll get outta here.
Handing over to the wonderful James Wallace who will take you to the close.
I was bold in my prediction that England would walk this. Shows what I know. Or maybe their batters will prove me right?
We’ll all find out together.
Thanks for writing in, keep the love going for Jimbo.
“Just wondering Daniel whether its cowardly to pray for rain at this point in proceedings…”
That’s some classic English pessimism from Phil Rhodes.
Afghanistan post 325-7
The bogy language from the English players tells a story. They look dejected. They were in complete control at 25 overs when Afghanistan were crawling at 103-3. But a bewildering 177 from Ibrahim, and cameos in the 40s from Hashmat, Azmat and Nabi helped the underdogs post a formidable total. Livingstone final over bagged two wickets for two runs, but it felt like a small victory amidst the onslaught.
WICKET! Nabi c Root b Livingstone 40 (Afghanistan 324-7)
Livingstone has another! Maybe bowling the last over isn’t so hard? Nabi takes a wild swipe at the ball but can only spoon it high for Root who peddles backwards at deep midwicket to pouch it.
WICKET! Ibrahim c Archer b Livingstone 177 (Afghanistan 323-6)
One of the great ODI innings comes to an end. Livingstone, tasked with the job of bowling the last over, begins with a leg-break that Ibrahim slog-sweeps high and down to long leg. It doesn’t quite have the legs to clear the rope and Archer holds onto the catch. A truly remarkable knock. The young lad leaves to a standing ovation.
49th over: Afghanistan 323-5 (Ibrahim 176, Nabi 40) Overton bowls the penultimate over (who will bowl the final over?) and varies his lines and lengths and is therefore difficult to hit. That is until the fifth ball which lands in the slot and Ibrahim unleashes a mighty swing of the bat to record another six down the ground.
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48th over: Afghanistan 309-5 (Ibrahim 167, Nabi 38) Ibrahim Zadran has just registered the highest score in Champions Trophy history and he got there by thwacking Archer’s slower ball for six. The cutters haven’t worked for Jof who closes out his 10 overs with 3-64. His final ball cracks Nabi on the helmet so we’ll have a concussion check which might give England a chance to breathe. They have been obliterated in these last 10 overs. This partnership of 97 has lasted just 48 balls.
Cricinfo’s Vithushan Ehantharajah has summed it up on X:
Hall of fame implosion, this. Stick it in a museum, sell prints in the gift shop for £60, mugs for £20
47th over: Afghanistan 299-5 (Ibrahim 159, Nabi 36) With Wood and Livingstone off the field, and with Rashid bowled out, Buttler has no choice but to toss the ball to Root. Nabi is all over him. The first ball disappears over the rope at midwicket and the second bursts through the hands of Salt at long leg. He should have caught that for my money but didn’t and it’s six more. Another misfield from Duckett at point sees it trickle for four more. England are falling apart! Nabi gets a single but that just brings Ibrahim on strike who caresses a full toss for four through the covers before paddling a couple down the leg side. 23 off that over, the most expensive of the innings.
46th over: Afghanistan 276-5 (Ibrahim 153, Nabi 19) Ibrahim brings up his 150 with one of four twos colelcted in the over. “An innings for the ages” says Ian Smith and I agree. One of the great knocks in recent memory. England look ragged and it’s more bad news as Livingstone limps off after tweaking something as he cut off a nudge towards long-on. 10 runs – all run – off the Overton over.
45th over: Afghanistan 266-5 (Ibrahim 144, Nabi 18) Rashid drags down and Nabi hoiks a pull down to cow corner where Root leaps, but can’t reach it. Six more to the score and the 50 partnership off just 26 balls. Four more singles and that’s Rashid done. 10-0-60-1. They played him well.
Onno Giller keeps the maths chat alive:
Hi Daniel,I think Alistair made a mistake, as to me the pattern (2-8-10-18) reads 2+8=10, 8+10=18, which would mean the next over would be: 10+18=28, not 8+10+18=36… at least that is my take on it!
Thanks for the over by over for those of us who don’t have Sky, best,
44th over: Afghanistan 256-5 (Ibrahim 142, Nabi 10) Wood limps off the field, perhaps for the last time, which places pressure on the rest of the England bowlers. Archer comes back into the attack and starts with a cutter that Ibrahim spots early and heaves over wide midwicket for six. Ibrahim slices a couple to a vacant deep point and then steers a full toss to the same spot for four. Grace and power both on show from Ibrahim. Another boundary from a slower ball, a late cut of the highest order. This is excellent batting. And another with a steered drive behind sqaure. Three fours, a six and the two add up to 20. Afghanistan are on top here.
43rd over: Afghanistan 236-5 (Ibrahim 122, Nabi 10) Ibrahim unfurls a wonderful shot for a one bounce four over Wood’s head. He gave himself a lot of room down the leg side, was followed by Wood, but still managed to stay inside the line to free his arms. It wasn’t a flourishing follow-through, more a checked bunt. All timing and it landed just inside the rope. What an innings this has been. Four singles, including a quick one that might have ended in a run-out had Brook hit the sticks from cover. Wood falls over again and grimmaces as he holds his knee. Why was he selected?
42nd over: Afghanistan 227-5 (Ibrahim 115, Nabi 8) Ibrahim swings Overton down to the deep and Archer is in business for a moment… but the lanky quick opts against the diver. Overton gives him a smile but would have wanted more effort from his mate. A wide and two more singles has Nabi on strike. He benefits from an overthrow from a wild chuck from Duckett to keep the strike and then carves away a cut shot over point for four.
Still stumped by the maths question from earlier?
Jaap Jacobs is here to help:
Alistair Connor refers to the pattern named after Leonardo Fibonacci, the famous thirteenth-century Italian cricketer.
41st over: Afghanistan 217-5 (Ibrahim 113, Nabi 1) Rashid is doing his bit. A lovely leggie beats Nabi’s bat. Just four runs off that over. It’s also the third powerplay so only five fielders allowed outside the ring.
WICKET! Azmatullah c Banton b Overton 41 (Afghanistan 212-5)
Overton breaks the partnership! His final ball of his comeback over is a slower cutter and Azmatullah isn’t quite there and he drags the shot wider than he’d have liked. Banton on the rope makes it look simple. It was a hard swing of the bat but caught the inside half of the toe.
40th over: Afghanistan 212-5 (Ibrahim 109)
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Did you catch the pattern that Alistair Connor spotted?
I was going to predict 36 runs for over 39, but they went soft…Previous overs : 2-8-10-18, see a pattern ?
Am I dense (probably)? I’m not seeing it.
39th over: Afghanistan 210-4 (Ibrahim 108, Azmatullah 40) Rashid is back. A little flatter than he was before. There’s a half appeal for a run-out at the non-strikers end as Rashid tips Azmatullah’s bunt back onto the stumps. Ibrahim is safe, though. Just two singles swings momentum back in England’s favour momentarily.
38th over: Afghanistan 208-4 (Ibrahim 107, Azmatullah 39) WOW! Wood has been spanked for back-to-back boundaries by Azmatullah. The first is a flashing scythe over cover for four as he frees his arm to some width. The second is a mighty six back down the ground after a skip out his crease and a flat-bat smack. Belligerent! Wood responds with a searing yorker that crashes into Azmatullah’s foot. He hobbles down for a leg-bye but needs some treatment after copping the full force of that 92 mph missile.
That’s just the first three balls. An eventful second half of the set begins with a testing bouncer that Ibrahim spoons for a couple down to long leg before caressing a cover drive for four. The final ball is squeezed down to deep third for a single.
37th over: Afghanistan 190-4 (Ibrahim 100, Azmatullah 29) After Ibrahim brought up his ton, Azmataullah launched Livingstone for six into the sight-screen. Time to go big I reckon.
Hundred up for Ibrahim!
A lovely moment as the opener brings up three figures with a tip and run single off Livingstone. He watched on as others fell around him and then expertly timed his innings as he led the fightback. Wonderful stuff. Six fours and three sixes in that innings of 106 balls. Still plenty of work to do.
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36th over: Afghanistan 180-4 (Ibrahim 98, Azmatullah 21) Wood continues. He’s wincing less after each ball but I still don’t like the fact that he’s bowling. A couple of twos – one drive down the ground by Ibrahim and some flash from Azmatullah wide of cover – alongside four singles adds up to a handy haul.
35th over: Afghanistan 172-4 (Ibrahim 94, Azmatullah 17) Feels like the deep breath before the plunge for Afghanistan. They’re watchful as Livingstone delivers a variety of offies and leggies, giving away just five singles. Ibrahim, who was accelerating through the gears, is now watchful as he crawls through the 90s.
34th over: Afghanistan 167-4 (Ibrahim 92, Azmatullah 14) Wood grimaces after delivering his first ball. He’s up to full speed in no time, though, cranking it north of 90 mph by his third ball. He tumbles over onto his gammy knee after his fourth which is squirted past point by Ibrahim and counts for two runs. A lovely slower ball to finish ends a handy over. But he’s hobbling after collecting his cap from the umpire. If he misses Tests later in the year there’ll be an inquisition.
Wood is back. How will that left knee hold up?
Is Baz missing a trick?
I know I’m a simple man (because people keep telling me) but I don’t understand why there is so little discussion about England’s new approach.
That’s from Andrew Moreman who maybe needs some new pals in Devon.
I mean all hail the mighty Baz obviously but we went to the sub continent with a bevy of fast bowlers and it didn’t work. it never has. And so we brought the same approach to this tournament where, hang on. It’s not working.
Weird one. Because Archer and Wood were very good early on, but it’s the spinners who have been impressive since the ball has aged. Maybe better balance, as opposed to one strategy or the other.
33rd over: Afghanistan 165-4 (Ibrahim 90, Azmatullah 14) Archer completes his 8th over. Not entirely sure what Buttler’s plan is here. Wood doesn’t look 100% but he’s on the field and will have likely be asked to bowl. Good pace from Archer and the Afghan batters are circumspect, happy to bunt and biff ones and twos. Ibrahim moves to 90 with a couple past midwicket and then a steer to deep third.
32nd over: Afghanistan 160-4 (Ibrahim 87, Azmatullah 13) Rashid’s slower pace compels the batters to wait for it, but Azmatullah is onto the final ball with a mighty swing of his bat. It explodes off the middle with a crackk and sails a long way over the boundary at wide long-on. There were just four singles before that, but that monstrous six means the batters win that set on points.
31st over: Afghanistan 149-4 (Ibrahim 84, Azmatullah 5) Buttler is looking to take advantage of this opening by reintroducing Archer. He’s got four overs left so it’s a gamble, but I see the logic. The quick starts with a series of leg-cutters. There’s also a knuckleball. Archer is showing off his range of tricks. Six off the over courtesy of five singles dabbed to boundary riders and a wide down the leg side.
30th over: Afghanistan 143-4 (Ibrahim 82, Azmatullah 1) Rashid returns with an important wicket. His first ball was struck for a single past cover by Ibrahim, his second was a googly to Shahidi and his third got the breakthrough. Shahidi premeditated the reverse sweep but realised about halfway through that he picked the wrong ball. It was too full and too flat and squeezed under the swinging blade. Exactly what England needed as the Afghan batters were climbing through the gears.
WICKET! Shahidi b Rashid 40 (Afghanistan 140-4)
When in trouble, call on Adil! Astute captaincy from Buttler. Then again, this was the obvious play. After Overton got spanked, Rashid returned and a slider out the front of the hand beats Shahidi’s booming reverse sweep and clatters the stumps behind.
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29th over: Afghanistan 139-3 (Ibrahim 80, Shahidi 40) Amazing how quickly this has turned. The bowlers were all over the batters not long ago but it’s the reverse now. Shahidi skips down the wicket to root and finds a big gap at extra cover with a lofted inside-out drive. Wonderful cricket. That brings up the 100-run partnership. Only seven overs ago they brought up the 50-run stand. I was calling for more intent and that’s exactly what they’ve delivered. it’s now England feeling the pressure.
28th over: Afghanistan 133-3 (Ibrahim 79, Shahidi 35) Ibrahim knows that Overton is going to bang it on a good length so he waits for it, leans back and smashes it down the ground with a horizontal bat, almost a tennis forehand. Overton then over-corrects and delivers a leg side half-volley that is clipped for four through midwicket. Excellent batting. A diving Livingstone prevents a third boundary down at deep backward square, keeping the pull to just two. But there’s no stopping the final ball from crossing the rope, a finer pull sees the over cost 16 as Ibrahim’s strike-rate climbs to almost a run-a-ball.
27th over: Afghanistan 117-3 (Ibrahim 63, Shahidi 35) Again, fantastic from Root. They just can’t get him away. Varying his pace, he’s keeping them honest, conceding five singles.
26th over: Afghanistan 112-3 (Ibrahim 60, Shahidi 33) Overton back into the attack and Ibrahim welcomes him with the shot of the day. A stand and deliver, hold the pose lofted drive down the ground. Just delicious. A single brings Shahidi on strike and he tries to force it, losing his shape as he slogs and misses. He gets down the other end before Ibrahim picks up two from a short ball to the leg side and then keeps the strike with another single from a checked-pull. Better from Afghanistan. It’s only the start, but feels like a small momentum shift. Can they keep it going?
25th over: Afghanistan 103-3 (Ibrahim 52, Shahidi 32) Better from Shahidi who explodes out his crease and mows Root away to the midwicket boundary. Didn’t time it, but he got enough wood on it to drag it past Brook at mid-on. That came after a single for Ibrahim but was followed by four dot balls.
24th over: Afghanistan 98-3 (Ibrahim 51, Shahidi 28) Ibrahim brings up his half century by swatting a full toss down the ground for a single. Livingstone sorts his length out and gives up just two more singles for the rest of the over. Don’t get me wrong, England’s spinners are bowling well, but there’s a distinct lack of intent from the batters.
23rd over: Afghanistan 94-3 (Ibrahim 49, Shahidi 26) Root is bowling well. A fine tickle for two from Ibrahim and a single from Shahidi down the ground is all they can muster from these skiddy deliveries. This is more than part-timer stuff. Root has conceded just eight runs from three overs.
22nd over: Afghanistan 91-3 (Ibrahim 47, Shahidi 25) Livingstone into the attack. Not a bad idea given the way Root’s sliding offies have cramped the batters. An ugly hack from Shahidi gets him two through the leg side and a single wide of long-off brings up the 50 partnership off 80 balls. Ibrahim is given a freebie with a full toss down the leg side that he tickles for four with a fine paddle.
21st over: Afghanistan 84-3 (Ibrahim 43, Shahidi 22) Good from Root. His bowling came on in the SA20 and he’s now more than a handy operator. Understands how to vary his pace and quickly works out where the batter doesn’t want it to land. Proof is in the pudding. Just two singles off that set.
20th over: Afghanistan 81-3 (Ibrahim 42, Shahidi 20) That’s more like it! Ibrahim skips down the track and with a lovely swing of the bat deposits Rashid for six down the ground. Picked the wrong-un and was all over it. That was off the second ball which then allowed the batters to rotate the strike for the next four balls. String a few more overs like that together and they’ll be back on track.
19th over: Afghanistan 71-3 (Ibrahim 34, Shahidi 18) Root into the attack and his round-arm action works a treat. No room to free the arms and his first over goes for just two singles. Afghanistan are going nowhere fast. They have to show more bravery. They bat deep. Time for one of them to open up.
18th over: Afghanistan 69-3 (Ibrahim 33, Shahidi 18) In response to the extra intent shown by the batters, Rashid is slowing his pace down, forcing them to wait just a touch longer for the ball to arrive. Ibrahim gets back and works a couple into a big gap at midwicket. Two singles elsewhere. Still not enough punch from the batters. This is a dream batting surface and this partnership needs to find an extra gear. Wood returns to the field but he’s not moving with great freedom. He has to wait 38 minutes before he can bowl again.
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17th over: Afghanistan 65-3 (Ibrahim 30, Shahidi 16) Overton is hammering it back-of-a-length with a series of cutters. He’s sussed things out by taking a bit of pace off the ball. A back-foot cut is timed well by Shahidi, but he picks out Archer at deep third. Ibrahim also cracks one off the back foot but has to settle for one as it races straight into the hands of the mad sweeping in the covers. Two more singles adds up to just four off the over. Overton has been very tidy, conceding just 12 off his four overs.
16th over: Afghanistan 61-3 (Ibrahim 28, Shahidi 14) A bit of intent shown by the batters. They’re using their feet to Rashid and reverse-sweeping him – two past cover off Shahidi’s swishing blade. Three singles has the score ticking, but something more dynamic is needed.
15th over: Afghanistan 56-3 (Ibrahim 27, Shahidi 10) A first boundary since the 7th over as Shahidi leans into a drive that slices backward of square and beats a diving Archer at deep third. Picks up a single as well but otherwise it’s points to Overton as he beats the bat with a lovely lifter off a good length. A partnership is slowly building. They need to keep going.
They’ll break for drinks.
16th over: Afghanistan 51-3 (Ibrahim 27, Shahidi 5) A rare bit of dross from Rashid drifts down leg for a wide. A googly is worked by Ibrahim to deep midwicket for a couple and there’s also two away off the face of the bat on the off side. Three singles adds up to a relatively expensive over. Eight off it.
13th over: Afghanistan 43-3 (Ibrahim 22, Shahidi 3) Change of ends for Overton as he replaces Archer. Decent pace first up as he touches 87 mph and beats Shahidi’s flash outside the off stump. He’s then fuller and skiddy, keeping it on a tight line, hitting a hard length. Another one zips past Ibrahim’s attempt at a scythe off the back foot. Just one run off the over. Afghanistan are in a hole right now.
12th over: Afghanistan 42-3 (Ibrahim 22, Shahidi 2) Spin now as Rashid comes into the attack. As you’d expect he’s on the money from the get go, flighting it up around a fourth/fifth stump line. Ibrahim swats a single down the ground and Shahidi plops one down to long-on for a single of his own. The last five overs have gone at just 2.6 an over.
11th over: Afghanistan 40-3 (Ibrahim 21, Shahidi 1) Archer continues with a sixth straight over. Still looks fresh and he’s going at less than four an over, so why not? The Afghans just cannot get him away. Just one wide for a misplaced bouncer the only run scored off that one. Shahidi tries to give himself room and hack at one, but he’s nowhere near the ball.
Should Wood have been there in the first place? Not according to Kevin Wilson:
No disrespect to Wood but I’m not sure he should be in this side anyway. He averages 40 in ODI cricket and no other side in the world would select a fast bowler with that record besides us. Yes, he’s quick but pace flies to the fence quicker. Mahmood should in this side anyway and Wood should play overseas Tests on rapid tracks.
10th over: Afghanistan 39-3 (Ibrahim 21, Shahidi 1) Overton replaces Wood and starts with a tidy over. Obviously not as quick but on the money. He’s got the lefty Shahidi swishing and missing at a couple outside the off stump. A pair of singles off the outside edge adds two more the score, but that powerplay well and truly belongs to Archer and England.
9th over: Afghanistan 37-3 (Ibrahim 20, Shahidi 0) Afghanistan need a partnership and they need one now. Archer, who hasn’t been brilliant, was just too quick for Rahmat and suckered him into an errant pull shot. Lazy is perhaps a better way to describe that shot. He’d picked up two with a punch through the covers off his back foot after Ibrahim flashed a single down to deep third, but he’s in the shed now.
WICKET! Rahmat c Rashid b Archer 4 (Afghanistan 37-3)
Bumped out! Banged in short and Rahmat is in no position to take on the pull. That flies off the top edge and floats down to Rashid at fine leg who gobbles it up without a worry. Archer, who became the fastest English bowler to 50 ODI wickets in 30 games, now has 51. Afghanistan’s decision to bat first is backfiring.
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8th over: Afghanistan 34-2 (Ibrahim 19, Rahmat 2) Wood falls down again to end the over. Surely that should be that. he absolutely pounds the turf in his run up and follow through. Yup, he’s leaving the field. Smart decision. He doesn’t look comfortable. Sad to see him limp off. Both batters pick up singles with Ibrahim collecting two with a drive through the covers.
Wood is in trouble here. It’s his left knee, I think. He’s now lying down and receiving some treatment. He doesn’t look comfortable on it. As Ian Smith says, England shouldn’t be risking such a “valuable commodity”. There are bigger fish to fry over the horizon. Well, he’s insisting he’s OK so he’ll carry on. Two more balls in this over.
7th over: 30-2 (Ibrahim 16, Rahmat 1) Width for the first time and Ibrahim throws his hands at it and slashes it for four through point. He then leans into a textbook straight drive with some perfect balance. Archer’s had enough of these drives and ends the over with a bumper.
6th over: Afghanistan 21-0 (Ibrahim 8, Rahmat 0) Wood bangs one in short and Ibrahim leans back and pokes at it. The blistering pace on the ball means it carries all the way for six, beating Archer at deep third. A quite remarkable (and lucky) shot. Wood won’t mind. He’s got it on a string and is terrorising the Afghan batters with some delicious shape away to the right hander and extreme gas. Two beauties would have found the edge of better players.
5th over: Afghanistan 15-2 (Ibrahim 2, Rahmat 0) Two in the over means England are all on top. First the shape into the right hander for the first scalp, but the second was a consequence of the fuller ball holding it’s line, duping Sediq into playing for the swing.
WICKET! Sediq lbw Archer 4 (Afghanistan 15-2)
Three reds and he’s gone! Sediq was convinced he’d hit it, but he actually thwacked his own pad with his bat as he looked to steer this straight one through midwicket. Fell over his front leg and was beaten for pace. Having been clipped for four by the lefty two balls earlier, Archer deserves credit for sticking with that full length. Big Jof is on a roll!
Joel Wilson has stuck his finger up, new batter Sediq has been struck on the pads by Archer but he reviews. Is this two in the over for Jof?
WICKET! Gurbaz b Archer 6 (Afghanistan 11-1)
50 ODI wickets for Archer! Finally Archer gets his in-swinger outside the line of off-stump. It’s almost a half-volley but Gurbaz’s feet are static as he prods away from his body, catching the ball with an inside edge that proves his undoing. A soft dismissal from the batter’s point of view but Archer won’t care about that. England are on the board.
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4th over: Afghanistan 11-0 (Gurbaz 6, Ibrahim 2) Wood is in the groove here. Delicious arcing shape away from the right hander off a full length at serious pace. An absolute jaffa beats Gurbaz’s edge. A half-volley is half-bunted by Ibrahim for a single in the covers and both batters steer singles down to deep third. Wood finishes with a trademark move by falling over in his follow through as he strays down leg; a leg-bye off Gurbaz’s hip to close out the over.
3rd over: Afghanistan 7-0 (Gurbaz 5, Ibrahim 0) Archer keeps hooping it in but it’s not dangerous. Gurbaz takes a big swipe at one and gets a piece of it, but Rashid down at fine leg does well to save the boundary with a diving stop. Just two runs. There’s an appeal for a strangle down the leg side, but it’s off Gurbaz’s pad. Jof still struggling to find a consistently probing area.
There’s a bit of a disparity between the scorecards on Cricinfo and Sky. The former has Ibrahim on 1, the latter on 0 (must have assumed it was a leg-bye in the first over). I’ll go with the latter as it’s the one I’m watching.
2nd over: Afghanistan 5-0 (Gurbaz 3, Ibrahim 1) Wood from the other end. Good wheels early, edging past 90 mph. Lovely shape away from the right hander and the high speed means Ibrahim is prodding at it from the crease. Gurbaz sneaks a quick single with Salt hitting the stumps with a tumbling dive forward, but the batters are home safe. Tidy start from Wood.
1st over: Afghanistan 4-0 (Gurbaz 2, Ibrahim 1) Archer’s first ball is steered down to deep third for a single by Gurbaz. The bowler then tightens his line, getting one to nip off a tricky length and cramp Ibrahim. Interesting field; a very backward point as well as a man catching in front of point. But the shape in allows Ibrahim to glove a single down to fine leg. Another drifts down leg – Jof hasn’t quite found his radar – and the final delivery is tucked to deep backward square.
Right then, Gurbaz is taking guard, Archer is tossing the ball between his hands. We’re ready to go!
More from Ali:
He won’t be adding to it today, having ticked England off his hit list during the 2023 World Cup, but in order here are the 45 (!) countries Mohammad Nabi has beaten during his incredible career: Bahrain, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran, Thailand, Nepal, UAE, Japan, the Bahamas, Botswana, Jersey, Fiji, Tanzania, Italy, Hong Kong, Argentina, Papua New Guinea, Cayman Islands, Oman, Denmark, Bermuda, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, China, Namibia, Singapore, Canada, USA, Kenya, Pakistan, Trinidad & Tobago, Bhutan, Maldives, Barbados, Uganda, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, West Indies, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Australia.
Joe Root, by comparison, has beaten 12.
Anthems now. Conditions look decent. Not a huge crowd yet, but as Ali said, it is a work day. Hopefully it fills up later.
Can England rally round their “brilliant leader” as Joe Root called him?
Is Livingstone living on a prayer?
Yes, says John Starbuck:
Hi. Unless he produces a whizzo performance today, I suspect Livingstone will be omitted from Saturday’s game, in favour of the (now) extra spinner. What do you reckon?
I’m a fan of Livingstone. Bats, bowls, gun fielder. But yes, he needs a show today.
All the chat on Sky in the build up has focused on the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan and they’re not pulling punches.
Nasser Hussain – who was skipper when England chose to boycott a game against Zimbabwe at the 2003 World Cup – and Michael Atherton are very strong on this.
“The game deserves better leadership,” says Atherton. “The Afghan women deserve better leadership.”
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Afghanistan team
No changes from the side that lost to South Africa.
Zadran, Gurbaz (wk), Atal, Shah, Shahidi (c), Omarzai, Nabi, Naib, Khan, Ahmad, Farooqi.
England team
Jamie Overton comes into the fold as the seam bowling all-rounder.
Salt, Duckett, Smith (wk), Root, Brook, Buttler (cap), Livingstone, Overton, Archer, Rashid, Wood.
Afghanistan win the toss and bat
Well that’s a surprise. All the talk before the toss was around how Afghanistan would’ve been keen to bowl, but there you go. England will do the honours with the ball first up.
We’ve got our first email… and it’s none other than Guy Hornsby:
Morning Daniel. I hope you’ve got your white whale South Africa shirt ready for their next game. As for England, helped by the weather, I’m not sure it’ll mean much. We can, should, and probably will win today. As gutted as I am for Carse, I think Overton’s variations will give us more options today. But Afghanistan are a serious team now and we can’t expect to win. We need to be ruthless and we need to play the situation, or we could fall flat on our faces. So much more needed from this team to get anywhere. Because we won’t stand a chance against SA if we don’t play better.”
Good news on the shirt front. I’ve got it! Cost me a pretty penny, but worth it.
Agree that Afghanistan are a serious team. They’re certainly better than what they produced against the Saffas. England will have to be sharp today.
Good news on the Ali Martin-laptop front.
All relatively friendly and got resolved soon after. Wasn’t like they were pointing them directly at us...
Side note from me, it’s really great to see Pakistan hosting a major(ish) tournament again. I know they’ve been knocked out, and I know they’ve had to play India ‘away” and I know there are issues the two south-Asian giants playing each, and I know there are a million things that our sport gets wrong, but this is at least a crumb of comfort. The crowds have been great (at least in the games I’ve watched) and the cricket’s been decent too.
Our man Ali Martin is at the Gaddafi Stadium, dealing with all sorts in Lahore, including security guards with machine guns who insist that laptops aren’t allowed in the ground (hopefully that’s all sorted, otherwise you’ll have to call in your copy):
Curious as to size of the crowd given it’s a working day, although walked past a fair few guys in Afghan shirts, face paints etc
There’s more than just a Champions Trophy semi-final spot on the line for Jos Buttler. He admits that his captaincy is in jeopardy.
Lose today, and he might not wear the armband again once the team returns from Pakistan.
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Preamble
Sound the klaxon – we’ve got a MUST-WIN contest on our hands. The equation is simple. Loser goes home. Winner stays on with a shot at the semis to come.
England should win it, really. They’re fresh from posting a monster total against Australia (sure they lost, but that doesn’t mean their score of 351-8 wasn’t sizeable). And Afghanistan, despite all their advances in recent years, were pretty poor against South Africa, stumbling to a 107-run loss in their opening game.
The cricket, of course, is just one strand to today’s narrative. This fixture has been wrapped up in political tension ever since there were calls for England to boycott the game in response to the gender apartheid taking place in Afghanistan. Those calls were rejected and the show goes on.
England’s former No. 3 stalwart and now Afghanistan’s coach, Jonathan Trott, has defended his players, but they need to do their bit with bat and ball. Can they turn controversy into rocket fuel? Or will England roar back to set up a showdown with South Africa on Saturday?
We’ll find out when things get going at 9am UK time, 1pm in Lahore.
Toss, teams and further updates to follow.
If you’d like to get in touch and share your thoughts, please drop me a mail.
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