Spencer Johnson produced a moment of magic at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, delivering a dream yorker to clean-bowl Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz in a must-win encounter at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The left-arm pacer struck early, dismantling the Afghan opener’s stumps with a lethal delivery that swung in late at 140.7 kph.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, caught off guard by the pace and movement, failed to bring his bat down in time, watching in disbelief as the ball crashed into the base of his off-stump. Afghanistan, led by Hashmatullah Shahidi, had won the toss and opted to bat, hoping to set a strong total.
However, the decision backfired immediately, as Johnson’s early strike left them reeling at 3/1 within the first over. Gurbaz, who had struggled in the tournament with scores of 10 and 6 in his previous two outings against South Africa and England, endured another tough day at the crease. His woes were in stark contrast to his explosive 110-run knock in the warm-up match against New Zealand, raising concerns about his form at a crucial stage of the competition.
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The breathtaking delivery was widely appreciated, with Star Sports sharing the clip on social media, captioning it: “Goneee! #SpencerJohnson sends #RahmanullahGurbaz packing with a brilliant yorker!” The dismissal also sparked a discussion among cricket experts.
Goneee!#SpencerJohnson sends #RahmanullahGurbaz packing with a brilliant yorker!
📺📱 Start Watching FREE on JioHotstar: https://t.co/3pIm2C5OWa#ChampionsTrophyOnJioStar 👉 #AFGvAUS | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 2 & Sports 18-1 pic.twitter.com/FGSwXB2WGA
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 28, 2025
Former England batter Michael Carberry, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, questioned why Gurbaz stood at the crease for so long after being bowled. “I’m not sure why he lingered there. That was simply an outstanding piece of bowling from Johnson. Sometimes, as a batter, you just have to acknowledge the bowler’s brilliance,” Carberry remarked.
Despite their early setback, Afghanistan’s campaign in the Champions Trophy remains alive. They secured a thrilling eight-run win over England, powered by a stunning 177-run knock from Ibrahim Zadran and a match-winning five-wicket haul from Azmatullah Omarzai. However, their journey hasn’t been without hurdles, as they suffered a heavy 107-run defeat to South Africa in their opening game.
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Meanwhile, Australia, led by Steve Smith, has also had a mixed run. They chased down the highest-ever total in Champions Trophy history to defeat England by five wickets, but their momentum was disrupted when their match against South Africa was washed out due to rain. With the tournament heading into its crucial stages, every game now carries immense significance for both teams.
