England appeared to have gotten their marketing campaign again on observe by beating Bangladesh on Tuesday, having been routed by New Zealand of their opening sport, however now face an uphill job to qualify for the semi-finals. With six matches nonetheless to play, it’s not past the realms of risk to suppose that Jos Buttler’s aspect may flip their kind round to succeed in the last-four, however on this displaying any probability of retaining the title seems slim.
Doubts over the energy of England’s seam bowling assault have been once more vindicated as Rahmanullah Gurbaz led a lightning begin, his free-flowing 80 from 57 balls making up the majority of a century opening stand, earlier than Afghanistan defied a middle-over slow-down to publish 284 after being requested to bat first.
In reply, England have been timid, dropping the important thing wickets of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow contained in the powerplay and too shortly retreating into their shell on a floor the place India had chased an identical complete in simply 35 overs towards the identical opposition earlier within the week.
Harry Brook was the exception, the Yorkshireman’s 66 from 61 balls conserving the chase alive, however when he was snared by the wonderful Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who took three wickets, there have been nonetheless 116 runs required and solely two tail-end wickets in hand. Fittingly, it was Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s talisman and world celebrity, who nabbed them each.
Afghanistan have lengthy threatened a outcome like this, arriving at every world event a extra full aspect than the final, however as a rule, struggling to compete with the batting assets of the main nations.
The emergences of 21-year-old openers Ibrahim Zadran and Gurbaz had offered motive to consider that heading into this World Cup, issues may be totally different and the latter supplied a sign as to why with an innings of actual swagger towards the new-ball.
Chris Woakes was once more troublingly free up prime and pulled from the assault after three overs that price 31 runs. His substitute, Sam Curran, didn’t fare any higher, pushed, flicked and pulled for 3 consecutive boundaries by Gurbaz as his two powerplay overs went for an additional 26, a rampant Afghanistan ultimately reaching drinks on 106 with out loss.
Bad seemed to have change into worse when Reece Topley, comparatively tight within the powerplay, limped off after jarring his knee within the area, however, fortunately, the short was later in a position to return to bowling, by which level England’s spinners had wrestled again management.
Adil Rashid was the important thing, splitting the opening pair by dismissing Zadran on his method to his finest World Cup figures of three-for-42, however the main breakthrough got here two overs later. Having simply seen Rahmat Shah stumped off Rashid, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi got here to the crease needing to exert calm however as a substitute set off in frantic pursuit of a non-existent single and left the irate Gurbaz run-out by yards.
Sussing spin as the best way to go, England utilized the squeeze, Liam Livingstone claiming a superb one-for-33 because the all-rounder bowled a full quota of 10 overs for the primary time in an ODI, whereas Root was additionally among the many wickets and all over the place within the area, taking 4 catches together with a surprising diving effort on the boundary to take away the harmful Rashid Khan.
Mark Wood apart, although, England’s seamers continued to battle as Ikram Alikhil’s half-century took Afghanistan inside 4 runs of their highest ever World Cup rating by the point they have been all-out off the penultimate ball.
Afghanistan had gotten nowhere close to defending a complete solely 12 runs smaller towards India 5 days earlier, however perception was quickly charging by the ranks as they chipped away on the English order with common success.
Bairstow was livid to be given lbw to a ball solely clipping leg-stump, whereas Root, as is his curse, received one which stored low, however by and enormous England’s dismissals have been tame, each recognised batter bar Brook falling whereas putting at nicely shy of a run-a-ball.
Only with Brook’s exit did the magnitude of what lay inside touching distance threaten to inhibit Afghanistan, the ultimate two wickets including a brisk 46 runs. Rashid, although, held his nerve to seal an historic, deserved success.
