Afghanistan defeat England reaction, highlights, wickets, standings, schedule

Afghanistan pulled off one of the biggest shocks of the World Cup on Sunday, beating reigning champions England by 69 points in New Delhi.

Chasing 285 to win, after opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit a blistering 80, England were bowled out for 215 despite Harry Brook’s 66, with spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan taking three wickets each.

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“It’s a very proud moment to be here in the World Cup beating the last champions, it’s a great moment for the whole nation and the team. A wonderful performance for the bowlers and the batters,” said Mujeeb said.

The stunning upset gave Afghanistan their second World Cup victory, to add to their only victory against Scotland in the 2015 tournament.

They came into Sunday’s clash having lost their first two matches in India and following a 14-match losing streak in the World Cup.

After Gurbaz and the recalled Ikram Alikhil, on 58, gave them a decent target to defend, the Afghan bowlers got to work, striking at regular intervals.

“It was disappointing that we won the toss and chose to bowl,” England skipper Jos Buttler said.

“Congratulations to Afghanistan, they dominated us today.”

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Jonny Bairstow (two) was in weight against Fazalhaq Farooqi at second before Joe Root was bowled out by 22-year-old man of the match Mujeeb for 11.

Mohammad Nabi got rid of Dawid Malan, who scored 140 against Bangladesh, for 32, precipitating a slip that saw England collapse to 138-6.

Buttler was bowled perfectly by seamer Naveen-ul-Haq for nine, Rashid Khan had Liam Livingstone lbw on 10 before Nabi also dismissed Sam Curran (10).

England were tied, at one point bowling more than eight overs without hitting a boundary until Brook managed the team’s only six innings in the 31st over.

Mujeeb dismissed Chris Woakes before effectively sealing the match in his next over, Brook being caught behind by Alikhil with England at 169-8.

Brook’s 66 came off 61 balls with seven fours and a six.

Late fireworks from Adil Rashid (20), Reece Topley (15) and Mark Wood (18) only served to take England past the 200 mark.

Earlier, 21-year-old Gurbaz piled up 57 balls with eight fours and four sixes to register his eighth score above fifty in his ODI career.

However, he was furious at not being able to reach a sixth century when he was involved in a disastrous mix-up with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi in the 19th over.

Gurbaz failed to gain ground and Buttler took the bails off a throw from replacement fielder David Willey.

An angry Gurbaz smashed his bat against a chair as he walked away with his team on 122-3.

Gurbaz needed just 33 balls to reach his half-century as Afghanistan, put into bat, reached 100 without loss off 77 deliveries.

Once Gurbaz was dismissed, England’s spinners brought the champions back into the contest in the middle overs.

The impressive Adil Rashid finished with 3-42 from his 10 overs after initially breaking Afghanistan’s 114-run opening stand when he had Ibrahim Zadran (28) caught.

But Alikhil stepped up with a 66-ball 58 after surviving a hit to the shoulder by a 147 kmph delivery from fast bowler Mark Wood.

Mujeeb added 28 to the total from 16 balls as Afghanistan finished strongly. England’s seamers endured a forgettable day with Sam Curran conceding 46 runs from four overs and new ball bowler Chris Woakes coughing up 41 from his four.

England came into Sunday’s match on the back of a defeat against New Zealand and a victory against Bangladesh, while Afghanistan suffered heavy defeats by six wickets against Bangladesh and eight wickets against India.

“England are now hanging by a thread in this competition,” former England bowler Steven Finn said on BBC Test Match Special.

“There are going to be a lot of meetings, a lot of conversations and a lot of headaches over the next 48 hours.

“They are going to have to get back up because they are not technically out of the tournament. But they’re going to have to change something and change it quickly if they want to compete with the best teams in the world.