If you’ve been following the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, you probably already know that Afghanistan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in cricket history. On October 15, 2023, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Afghanistan stunned defending champions England with a spirited all-round performance.
This wasn’t just another group stage clash. It was a match filled with passion, drama, and fearless cricket—the kind of game that reminds fans why they fell in love with the sport in the first place. Let’s break it down in a friendly, no-nonsense way and relive the moments that made this clash unforgettable.
Why This Match Was So Special
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Afghanistan’s fighting spirit: The Afghan team has a reputation for never backing down, and this match was the perfect example.
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England under pressure: The defending champions entered the tournament as favorites but were struggling to find rhythm. Losing to Afghanistan highlighted how unpredictable cricket can be.
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Rising stars shining bright: Players like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mujeeb Ur Rahman showcased world-class talent on the biggest stage.
Afghanistan’s Explosive Batting Performance
Afghanistan batted first and put up a competitive total of 284 runs in 49.5 overs—and it wasn’t just the score that mattered, but the fearless way they went about it.
Key Highlights from Afghanistan’s Innings
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Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s blazing start:
Gurbaz smashed 80 runs from just 57 balls, including 8 fours and 4 sixes. His fearless strokeplay against England’s pace attack set the tone. -
Ikram Alikhil’s steady hand:
Coming in at a crucial moment, the young wicketkeeper scored a composed 58 from 66 balls, holding the innings together. -
Late fireworks:
Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s quick 28 off 16 balls and Rashid Khan’s 23 off 22 added vital runs at the back end, frustrating England’s bowlers.
Final Score:
Afghanistan – 284 all out in 49.5 overs
England’s Bowling Struggles
For a team with world-class bowlers, England looked surprisingly ordinary in patches. Adil Rashid stood out with figures of 3/42 in 10 overs, but others leaked runs heavily.
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Chris Woakes and Sam Curran struggled for rhythm.
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Mark Wood picked up 2 wickets but couldn’t stop the flow of runs.
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Livingstone and Root chipped in with wickets, but Afghanistan kept scoring at crucial moments.
England’s Chase Falls Apart
Chasing 285, England never really looked settled. Afghanistan’s spinners and disciplined bowling rattled their middle order.
Key Moments from England’s Innings
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Early wickets:
Jonny Bairstow fell cheaply to Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Joe Root couldn’t survive Mujeeb’s spin. -
Harry Brook fights back:
Brook scored a fighting 66 off 61 balls, keeping England’s hopes alive. -
Afghanistan’s spin web:
Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman spun a web around England’s batting lineup. Rashid Khan’s 3/37 in 9.3 overs was a masterclass in pressure bowling. -
Lower order resistance:
Adil Rashid (20 off 13) and Mark Wood (18 off 22) tried to counterattack, but the damage had already been done.
Final Score:
England – 215 all out in 40.3 overs
Afghanistan’s Bowling Heroes
Every bowler chipped in, but a few names deserve special recognition:
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Mujeeb Ur Rahman: 10 overs, 3/51 – plus a quickfire 28 with the bat.
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Rashid Khan: 9.3 overs, 3/37 – England had no answers to his spin.
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Mohammad Nabi: 6 overs, 2/16 – used all his experience to tighten the screws.
England simply couldn’t handle the spin trio of Rashid, Mujeeb, and Nabi.
Standout Performances of the Match
Man of the Match: Mujeeb Ur Rahman
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28 runs from 16 balls (batting)
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3 wickets for 51 runs (bowling)
A true all-round display that sealed Afghanistan’s victory.
Highest Run Scorer: Rahmanullah Gurbaz
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80 runs from 57 balls
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Strike rate: 140.35
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Set the platform for Afghanistan’s innings.
Highest Wicket Takers:
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Adil Rashid (England) – 3/42
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Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 3/37
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Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan) – 3/51
Playing XIs
Afghanistan XI
Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq
England XI
Jos Buttler (c & wk), Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley
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Why This Win Matters for Afghanistan Cricket
Afghanistan’s win wasn’t just about two points in the World Cup. It was about:
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Proving themselves against a world-class side.
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Inspiring a new generation of cricketers back home.
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Announcing to the cricketing world that they are no longer underdogs.
Beating England, the defending champions, was a massive confidence booster and a proud moment for Afghan cricket fans worldwide.
Final Thoughts
The Afghanistan vs England clash at the 2023 Cricket World Cup was more than just an upset. It was a celebration of passion, belief, and skill. From Gurbaz’s explosive start to Mujeeb and Rashid’s magical spells, Afghanistan showed the cricketing world that they’re here to stay.
As fans, we live for matches like these—where the underdog roars, giants fall, and history is written under the floodlights.
So, if anyone still calls Afghanistan cricket a “developing team,” just remind them of October 15, 2023.
