ENG vs AFG highlights, Cricket World Cup 2023: Afghanistan beats England by 69 runs

AFGHANISTAN BEATS ENGLAND BY 69 RUNS

And Wood’s defence is over. Who else but Rashid to wham in the final nail? Bowled onto the wickets, Wood goes for the sweep and ends up missing all of it. This is a famous, famous win for the Afghan Atalan. Their second, in fact, in World Cups, the first having come in 2015 against Scotland by one wicket.

As far as England is concerned, well they’ve to rush back to the drawing board. A lot of quiet introspection to be done. They have moved into the negative territory (-0.08) on the NRR charts.

Two fours in the 36th over, one each from Wood and Adil, seem like a whiff of fresh air for England.

An overthrow from Mujeeb in the 37th over costs Afghanistan five more runs. England won’t mind.

Wood hangs back and cuts one past backward point. Woah, is it that difficult to turn things around? It’s all about how tactfully they handle Rashid’s remaining overs.

AND GONE! Nabi takes a sitter at slip to send Adil back into the hut. The end seems to be nigh as the faces go ‘longer’ on the England bench.

IS IT OVER? OH NO... An opportunity goes abegging as Farooqi spills one. Rashid cannot believe what he has just seen. England goes past 200.

Three consecutive fours, and one of these comes off an edge. Doesn’t matter how they come, Buttler and Co. would only be worries about their NRRs now.

A huge six from Harry Brook over long leg in the 31st over. The drinks are on the field.

Woakes creams a drive through cover. Bowler Naveen-ul-Haq wants a field change. Gurbaz twists his ankle while back-pedalling. He has moved off the field for now.

A loud appeal and up goes the finger! The ball keeps a tad bit lower before thudding into Woakes’ pads. Mujeeb seems to have got his man. Woah! A DRS shows that the delivery would have gone on to miss the stumps after pitching outside off. Woakes survives.

But the English all-rounder doesn’t survive the entire over ultimately. Mujeeb knocks him over. England is seven down!

Ikram takes a wonderful catch as Harry Brook (66, 61b) gets a feather of an outside edge. This is the wicket Afghanistan has wanted for so long. The Mujeeb Magic is on!

Nabi, playing his 150th game, gives Afghanistan more reasons to celebrate! A tossed-up delivery, this one dips and kisses Sam Curran’s outside edge before softly carrying to Rahmat at first slip. Not a good day to be Curran...

Rashid’s back. One of his deliveries jags into the stumps with Woakes on strike. The duo exchange smiles. It will be a maiden over.

Afghanistan has prised open England’s middle order. Sam Curran now out in the middle with Brook, who is waging a lone battle.

Nabi brought back in to counter the left-handed Curran. He is not taking any unncecessary risks against the Afghan spinner.

Rashid raps Brook on the pad with a wron’un. Strong appeals, but the umpire is unmoved. Seems like it was moving away. Brook gets to his fifty with a single.

Livingstone can’t make much of an impact. Rashid with one that slid on. Livingstone misses it completely and the ball hits him plumb on the front pad. England reviews more in hope. It is all red and England is five down.

Brook and Livingstone goes after Naveen straight after the wicket. The duo smashes three fours in the ove, with Naveen going way too full.

But Afghanistan keeps going for wickets, with Rashid operating with a slip. He gives away just three runs in his second over.

Buttler is taking his own good time to get into the game. He is on 4 off 14 balls.

From the other end, Brook drives Naveen down the ground for a four.

Finally, Rashid into the attack. England batters don’t allow the leggie getting intoa rhythm. First ball, Buttler cover drives him for a four.

But Naveen ends Buttler’s tentative stay. Cuts one back in from a good length and it takes a chunk off the off stump.

Jos Buttler b Naveen-ul-Haq 9 (18b 1x4 0x6)

Buttler is out in the middle much earlier than he would have hoped for.

Naveen with his second over. He swings one past Buttler’s inside edge. It misses the stumps narrowly. This has been a top-class bowling performance from Afghanistan.

Naveen-ul-haq gets his first over. He starts with one on the corridor. Malan flashes at it and it flies past the slip cordon for a four. On the hips next and Malan trickles it past the keeper for another four.

Nabi introduced into the attack. He spins one past the inside edge of Brook. Comes off the pad and pops to the keeper. No inside edge and was drifting wide.

But he is not to be denied a wicket. Loops one in. Malan doesn’t get to the pitch of the ball and lobs it gently to Ibrahim at short cover.

Dawid Malan c Ibrahim Zadran b Mohammad Nabi 32 (39b 4x4 0x6)

The runs are not just flowing for England. And Afghanistan still has Rashid Khan up its sleeve. Is this going to be an upset.

Dawid Malan, after starting with intent, has retreated into his shell. Brook too is taking his time to get into the act.

Brook gets his first four with a clip to the square leg fence. That should provide an injection of momentum into the English chase.

Mujeeb with one that slid on. The ball goes under Root’s bat and crashes onto the stumps. England in a spot of bother.

Joe Root b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 11 (17b 2x4 0x6)

Root offered a loosener first ball. On the pads and guided away for a four. Fazal realigns his line and Root is forced to defend with a straight bat.

Mujeeb keeps it tidy from the other end. Gives away just two runs in his second over.

Fazal has Malan all tied up with one that jagged back in. Outside edge and it runs away for a four. Another outswinger sneaks past Malan’s bat and strikes him on the pad. Afghanistan’s turn to take an unsuccesful review.

Bairstow and Malan have made their way out into the middle. Afghanistan starts with spin - Mujeeb with the ball. Sedate start. Just three runs from the first over.

Fazal from the other end. He swings one into Bairstow’s pads. Umpire gives it out. England reviews unsuccessfully. Bairstow has to walk back.

Jonny Bairstow lbw b Fazalhaq Farooqi 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)

England has succesfully chased down a 250+ total only twice in the ODI World Cup.

Once against West Indies in 2007 and once against Netherlands in 2011.

The captain comes down to have a chat with Curran after Mujeeb takes him on a wild ride. A four first, followed by a 5nb courtesy to an attempted yorker that slips out of the bowler’s fingers. The freehit has been lofted for a huge six; you cannot bowl it that short. There will be field changes. The fine leg’s been asked to come up. Mid-off goes long.

Ikram gets to his fifty, but he survives a dangerous moment as the ball flies over Buttler’s head. Topley does well to save the boundary at fine leg though.

Topley strikes! Ikram’s wonderful knock comes to an end as he holes out to Curran near the ropes. Naveen-ul-Haq joins Mujeeb.

Root takes yet another catch! Mujeeb clears his front leg, swivels and gets a big, fat edge which settles safely in Root’s hands at backward point.

The “Kohli! Kohli!” chants are back as Naveen takes strike. Slashed for four! Naveen ends the 49th over on a high. AFG 282/9 in 49 overs.

Topley to bowl the last over. Afghanistan fails to cross its highest-ever World Cup score of 288, as Naveen-ul-Haq has been dismissed run out. Incidentally, it is also the highest successful run chase at the venue in ODIs.

AFG 284 (49.5)

Slapped through deep third, Ikram gets a boundary off Topley’s bowling.

Adil Rashid walks in to bowl the 43rd over. In his last two overs he would get to bowl to the five fielders outside the circle. Can that make a difference?

Sam Curran, as expected, will be shouldering the responsibility of bowling at the death.

AN EARLY CONTENDER FOR THE CATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT... Joe Root takes his second catch of the day at the deep to see the back of Rashid.

Rashid finishes with figures of 3/42. He has done well to apply the brakes on the Afghan innings.

AFG 237/7 in 45 overs

Jos Buttler misses a stumping opportunity. The ball doesn’t settle into the keeper’s gloves and Ikram, initially drawn into the drive, has just the amount of time to turn back and ground his bat.

Wood gets rid of Nabi for 9(15b). Doesn’t commit to a shot off the short ball and it balloons to Root at gully.

Rashid walks out to the middle amid crazy cheers from the stands. He responds with a graceful cover drive.

Topley returns, after bowling five overs with the new ball. He had walked off clutching his knee a while earlier; looked a bit worrying. But he’s back and things seem to be alright. For now, that is.

ENG 216/6 in 40 overs

With two left-handers at the crease and the odd ball gripping, seemed like the right time for Root to be bowling. And he does the job! The Afghan skipper departs as the ball rocks the top of off.

Shahidi b Root 14(36); Drinks on the field.

Nabi ends the 33rd over with a boundary through backward square.

Mark Wood returns to bowl around the wicket to left-handed Ikram.

AFG 186/5 in 35 overs

Ikram Alikhil wouldn’t let go of that opportunity. EVER. Joe Root drops one short and Alikhil has hammered that over deep midwicket for a monster.

Livingstone gives away a single in the 30th over.

AFG 167/4 in 30 overs

Omarzai tries to take on Livingstone with a wild heave to the leg side. He can only manage a top edge and it goes a very long way up.

Woakes circles underneath it and completes the catch. Afghanistan drifting further and further into the danger zone.

Azmatullah Omarzai c Woakes b Livingstone 19 (24b 1x4 1x6)

And just like that, the game has changed its course.

Rashid and Livingstone have tightened the noose with some tight overs. Omarazai and Shahid are biding their time with the bat. The run-rate has dropped well below six.

Omarzai finally breaks free against the returning Woakes. Six over the mid-wicket with consummate ease.

Shahidi calls for a very risky run. Gurbaz has to run into the danger end and there was no chance he was going to make it, despite a full-length dive. An unfortunate end to a brilliant innings.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz run out (sub [DJ Willey]/†Buttler) 80 (57b 8x4 4x6)

Afghanistan has committed a mini harakiri

AFG 125/3 in 20 overs

Rahmat Shah can’t make much of an impression. Rashid draws Rahmat forward with a slower one. The ball whizzes past the outside edge and Buttler makes a sharp stumping.

Rahmat Shah st †Buttler b Rashid 3 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Adil Rashid finally breaks the opening partnership. Zadran was under pressure for a while. He attempts to go over the infield, but can’t clear short mid wicket.

Ibrahim Zadran c Root b Rashid 28 (48b 3x4 0x6)

Still no respite for England as the Afghanistan openers continue to make merry.

Mark Wood into the attack and Gurbaz goes after him straight away. Short ball outside off and Gurbaz lashes it over the third man fence for a six.

Rashid put one in the slot for Gurbaz, who pumps it over mid wicket for another six.

English bowlers clueless on the face of this onslaught.

Rashid into attack. Gurbaz brings out the sweep shot and it races away for a four and that is his fifty. It has come in just 33 balls.

Topley is the next to be treated with disdain by Gurbaz. Sliced past point. FOUR!!

Sam Curran into the attack and Zadran welcomes him with smooth cover drive. FOUR!! Gurbaz too wades into Curran. A couple of fours is followed up with a thunderous pull shot which flies away for a six.

Afghanistan cruising at this stage.

Woakes gifts Afganistan a wide four to start off the innings. Not a great effort from Buttler to be honest.

Gurbaz has looked to take the attack on to the English bowling with some aggressive shots. He smokes Woakes over mid-wicket for the first six of the game.

Woakes crashes Woakes for two consecutive fours through the off side. Brilliant start from the Afghan batters.

Gurbaz and Zadran are out in the middle. They will look to give Afghanistan a strong start in a good batting pitch.

England - Jonny Bairstow(w/c), Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Jos Buttler wins the toss and he decides to bowl first.

England fields an unchanged side.

One change for Afghanistan.

When will England vs Afghanistan World Cup match be played?

The England vs Afghanistan ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match will be played on Sunday, October 15.

What time will England vs Afghanistan World Cup match begin?

The England vs Afghanistan ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match will begin at 2:00 PM IST.

Where will England vs Afghanistan World Cup match take place?

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match between England vs Afghanistan will take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Which TV channel will broadcast England vs Afghanistan World Cup match Live?

The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match between England vs Afghanistan will be telecast LIVE on the Star Sports networkfrom 2:00 PM IST onwards.

Where to watch Live streaming of England vs Afghanistan World Cup match?

The ICC World Cup 2023 match between England vs Afghanistan will be streamed LIVE on the Disney+Hotstar app and website.

2015 - England won by nine wickets (DLS) (Sydney)

2019 - England won by 150 runs (Manchester)

Matches played: 2

England won: 2

Afghanistan won: 0

Last result: England won by 150 runs (Manchester, 2019)

ENGLAND: Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Reece Topley

AFGHANISTAN: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, Rashid Khan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq

England has a reputation to protect. The defending champion may have taken off on the wrong foot in the World Cup, but the thumping win over Bangladesh has underlined its preparedness.

On Sunday, on a batter-friendly surface at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, England will eye a run-feast at the expense of a winless Afghanistan.

Going by the manner, 754 runs were scored here in the South Africa-Sri Lanka match, and India chased down Afghanistan’s 272 in just 35 overs. England would love to do its net run rate some good.

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