Ibrahim Zadran set a Champions Trophy record by scoring 177 runs, leading Afghanistan to 325-7 against England in a crucial group match in Lahore. After a challenging start at 37-3, Zadran formed key partnerships, first with Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 runs) and then with Mohammad Nabi (40 runs), helping stabilize the innings. Zadran, at 23, surpassed his previous ODI best of 162 and broke Afghanistan’s record for the highest individual ODI score. England’s Jofra Archer took three early wickets but struggled after an injury to fellow bowler Mark Wood, impacting their performance. The match was critical for both teams’ semi-final hopes.
Opener Ibrahim Zadran achieved a Champions Trophy record of 177, propelling Afghanistan from a shaky start to a total of 325-7 against England during a group match in Lahore on Wednesday. The Group B encounter at Gaddafi Stadium was essentially a knockout, with the losing side eliminated from the semi-final contention of the 50-over tournament. Amid calls for a boycott from some British politicians regarding the situation of women under Taliban rule, Afghanistan opted to bat in hopes of recovering from their opening defeat. However, they quickly found themselves at 37-3 within the first nine overs before Zadran stabilized the innings, forming a fourth-wicket partnership of 103 with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who scored 40. Zadran went on to add 111 for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Nabi, who contributed 40 runs off just 24 balls.
Highest individual scores in Champions Trophy
177 Ibrahim Zadran vs Eng Lahore 2025
165 Ben Duckett vs Aus Lahore 2025
145*Nathan Astle vs USA The Oval 2004
145 Andy Flower vs Ind Colombo RPS 2002
141*Sourav Ganguly vs SA Nairobi 2000
141 Sachin Tendulkar vs Aus Dhaka 1998
141 Graeme Smith vs Eng Centurion 2009
Zadran, 23, dismantled the England bowling attack, surpassing his previous ODI best of 162 during his impressive 146-ball innings, which included 12 fours and six sixes.
He not only set a new record for Afghanistan’s highest individual ODI score but also established a tournament record just days after Ben Duckett’s 165 in England’s opening loss to Australia.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer made early inroads, claiming three wickets, including two in a single over, starting with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who was bowled for six.
Archer and new-ball partner Mark Wood bowled at impressive speeds ranging from 145 km/h to 150 km/h, but Wood was soon forced to leave the field due to injury, having bowled just four overs.
With Wood absent, Zadran seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, prompting captain Jos Buttler to adjust his bowling options.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid eventually broke the partnership by bowling Shahidi, who was unable to connect with an attempted reverse sweep, leading to the ball hitting the stumps.
Zadran sealed his seventh ODI century with a single off Liam Livingstone as he and Azmatullah Omarzai accelerated the scoring in a brisk 72-run partnership until Omarzai was dismissed for 41.
Unfazed by the wicket, Zadran continued to attack, hitting a six and three fours off Archer’s bowling.
Wood returned to bowl another four overs before having to exit again, leaving Buttler to strategize against the aggressive Zadran and Nabi.
Zadran was finally dismissed by Livingstone, who also got rid of Nabi in the final over.
Previously, Afghanistan faced England in an ODI during the 2023 World Cup in New Delhi, where they stunned the defending champions with an extraordinary victory.
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