Afghanistan’s Stunning Run-Through of England’s Top Order: A Thriller at the Champions Trophy 2025
In a breathtaking display of skill and determination, Afghanistan stunned the cricketing world by running through England’s top order on the opening day of their Champions Trophy 2025 clash. The encounter, anticipated to be a high-octane match between two formidable teams, quickly turned into a one-sided contest, with Afghanistan’s bowlers rising to the occasion in front of a raucous crowd. What followed was an enthralling narrative of control, aggression, and cricketing brilliance, as Afghanistan’s bowlers showcased their mettle, and England’s top-order crumbled under pressure.
The Stage is Set
The atmosphere was electric as both teams walked onto the field, with England, the pre-tournament favorites, facing Afghanistan, a side brimming with youthful energy and a growing reputation in the world of limited-overs cricket. On a pitch that offered something for both the pacers and spinners, the stage was set for a thrilling contest. England, led by their captain, were looking to get off to a solid start, but Afghanistan had other plans.
As the game began, England won the toss and chose to bat, hoping to make use of the conditions that were expected to ease up as the day went on. With a top-order that included the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, and captain Jos Buttler, England were confident of posting a big total. However, Afghanistan’s bowlers had a different story to tell.
The Early Breakthroughs
Afghanistan’s pace attack, led by the fiery Naveen-ul-Haq and the ever-impressive Rashid Khan, immediately made their mark on the game. Naveen, known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, caused early problems for the England openers. The first breakthrough came in the 5th over, with Jonny Bairstow playing an uncharacteristic shot outside off-stump and edging a delivery that swung away to wicketkeeper Rahmat Shah. It was a soft dismissal, but it was the early jolt England did not expect.
Naveen was on fire, his pace and movement causing panic in the English camp. Joe Root, the ever-dependable anchor of England’s top order, soon found himself under pressure. Naveen bowled a perfect outswinger that Root, who had been solid so far, could only edge to slip, where the ever-alert Hashmatullah Shahidi took a sharp catch. With Root gone cheaply, Afghanistan had England on the ropes at 20 for 2.
The crowd erupted, sensing the upset that could be brewing. But what followed was even more shocking.
Afghanistan’s Spinners Join the Party
With England’s top order struggling, the match shifted gears when Afghanistan turned to their trump card: Rashid Khan. The leg-spinner, one of the best in the world, was introduced into the attack in the 10th over, and immediately, he made his presence felt. England’s captain, Jos Buttler, known for his aggressive batting and ability to take control, walked out to the middle with the hope of stabilizing the innings. But Rashid Khan had different plans.
On just his second delivery, Rashid bowled a magical leg-break that pitched outside the off-stump and turned sharply into Buttler’s stumps. Buttler, caught off-guard by the amount of turn, failed to get his bat down in time and was bowled. The England captain was gone for just 4 runs, and England’s top order had been decimated for a mere 24 runs.
It was a stunning display of spin bowling, and Rashid Khan’s celebration was a mixture of triumph and sheer confidence. Afghanistan, though considered the underdogs, were now firmly in control of the match. England, a team that had been regarded as one of the most dangerous in world cricket, found themselves 24 for 3 with just 10 overs played, in what could be described as a chaotic top-order collapse.
Afghanistan’s Bowlers in Complete Control
The drama continued, and the final nail in England’s coffin came when Rashid Khan sent Harry Brook packing for a duck. Brook, trying to cut a short delivery outside the off-stump, found only the edge, and the ball flew to slip, where the safe hands of Rahmat Shah took another easy catch. At 24 for 4, England’s top-order had been completely obliterated in just 12 overs.
Afghanistan’s fast bowlers, Naveen-ul-Haq and the experienced Mujeeb Ur Rahman, continued to exert pressure. Mujeeb, with his elusive variations in pace and flight, continued to tie the England batsmen down. The batters, unable to force the issue, found themselves frustrated as wickets kept falling. It was a brilliant display of controlled aggression from Afghanistan, whose bowlers made the most of the conditions and executed their plans to perfection.
The Turning Point: England’s Fightback
As England’s top order crumbled, the middle order had to take charge, and they did, albeit with the game slipping further from their grasp. Ben Stokes, who was always going to be a key player for England, walked to the crease with a sense of urgency. Together with the in-form Sam Curran, Stokes attempted to rebuild the innings. But the damage had already been done, and it was clear that Afghanistan’s bowlers had a stranglehold on the game.
Stokes played a few fine shots, including a well-timed pull off Naveen, but the weight of the situation was evident. England, once dominant with their aggressive batting, had been brought to their knees by Afghanistan’s relentless bowling attack. Stokes, trying to force the issue, was eventually dismissed by Mujeeb in the 20th over, caught behind for 15 runs, leaving England reeling at 48 for 5.
With the middle order now exposed, Afghanistan’s bowlers kept up the pressure. Curran, a gritty player known for his resilience, stood firm for a while, but the wickets kept tumbling. Afghanistan’s fielding was sharp, and they looked on top of their game, refusing to let England recover.
Afghanistan’s Complete Dominance
As the game progressed, the England lower order struggled to make an impact. Adil Rashid, the lower-middle order batter, could not manage to build any partnerships, and eventually, England was bowled out for just 74 runs. Afghanistan had, quite remarkably, dismissed the former champions for under 100 runs in just 26.2 overs.
The final tally of wickets read like a textbook of precise, disciplined bowling. Naveen-ul-Haq took 2 wickets, Rashid Khan, the star of the day, took 3 wickets, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman was instrumental in the middle overs, taking crucial scalps and maintaining the pressure.
Conclusion: A Historic Moment
Afghanistan’s performance was one of the greatest upsets in modern cricket, a testament to their growing stature in international cricket. Their bowlers were brilliant, their fielding sharp, and their ability to capitalize on England’s mistakes was flawless. The match, which had seemed to be a typical encounter between two top teams, turned into a story of Afghanistan’s dominance over one of the most feared teams in the world.
As the day ended, England were left to reflect on what had gone wrong, while Afghanistan celebrated one of the greatest triumphs in their cricketing history. It was a day that cricket fans would remember for years to come, not just because of the victory, but because of the way Afghanistan dominated England’s top order, running through them like a whirlwind.
For Afghanistan, this victory was more than just a win; it was a statement to the cricketing world that they had arrived and were here to stay.
