ENG vs AFG: Afghanistan shocks defending champions England, fans react to 69-run victory

In a historic moment for Afghanistan cricket, they claimed a remarkable victory against tournament favourites England, marking only their second win in World Cup history. The defending champions were left baffled by the Afghan bowlers as they succumbed to a 69-run loss at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium. This victory brought an end to Afghanistan's 14-match losing streak in ODI World Cups, with their only previous win in the tournament dating back to 2015 when they defeated Scotland in Dunedin.

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Afghanistan's success was a result of a collective team effort, spearheaded by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who set the tone after they were put into bat. His aggressive 80 not only provided Afghanistan with a flying start but also set the stage for an all-around performance. Their bowlers, led by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, each secured three wickets, with Mohammad Nabi adding two to his tally. Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naveen-ul-Haq also contributed with one wicket each.

The defeat of the defending champions, who lost eight wickets to spin for the first time in a World Cup match, left cricket enthusiasts buzzing with excitement, and they expressed their jubilation on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Afghanistan's innings concluded at 284 all-out, with Gurbaz top-scoring with an explosive 57-ball 80 before being run out. His opening partner, Ibrahim Zadran, played a vital role with 28 runs in their 114-run partnership spanning 16 overs. 

Replacing Najibullah Zadran in the playing XI, Ikram Alikhil made a significant impact with his 58 off 66 balls, while star leg-spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman contributed 23 and 28 runs, respectively. England's leg-spinner Adil Rashid stood out, taking 3/42.