In a stunning turn of events at the ODI World Cup 2023, Afghanistan pulled off an extraordinary victory against England, the defending world champions. This match, held on October 15, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, was a historic moment for Afghanistan as it marked their first win against a Test-playing nation in the premier 50-over ICC tournament.
The match was a spectacle of immense proportions, with Afghanistan beating England by a significant margin of 69 runs. The victory was a testament to Afghanistan’s tenacity and skill, as they had only ever won one World Cup match in their entire history prior to this. The win was imposing given that England is a cricketing powerhouse, still basking in the glow of a golden era that has bestowed mythical status on much of its team.
Former England cricketer Michael Atherton criticized the England side while speaking on Sky Sports and said that their bowling is turning out to be a big issue.
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“England haven’t bowled well enough and teams have got off to fliers against them. There are reasons. Many of the players are undercooked in terms of cricketing time, time in ODIs. But they have not hit the ground running and have made things very difficult for themselves now,” Michael Atherton said on Sky Sports.
Afghanistan’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, they posted a formidable score of 284, thanks to a blistering knock of 80 from opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and a half-century from Ikram Alikhil. In response, England crumbled under the pressure, scoring only 215 runs. The Afghan spinners, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan played a crucial role in this victory, taking three wickets each and putting England’s batting line-up in disarray.
This victory shattered several records and lifted Afghanistan off the bottom of the group standings. It was a proud moment for the team and the nation, marking a significant milestone in their cricketing journey. The win was a testament to their hard work, determination, and the immense progress they have made in the sport.
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“They outplayed England – it wasn’t as if they won on a desperate turning pitch that suited their spinners. It was the greatest night in Afghanistan’s history and they won fair and square,” Michael Atherton lauded the Afghan side.
The match will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Cricket World Cup, a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the sport. It serves as a reminder that in cricket, as in life, underdogs can triumph against all odds, making for a truly memorable and inspiring spectacle.
