(Image Source: Twitter)
[Saba Sports News] In a stunning upset, Afghanistan secured their first-ever victory over defending champions England in the 2023 World Cup clash in Delhi. Afghanistan defended a target of 285 runs with their spinners wreaking havoc.
The trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Mohammad Nabi claimed eight wickets, exploiting the pitch conditions. Sachin Tendulkar praised Afghanistan for their remarkable win and noted that England’s batsmen erred by trying to read the spinners off the pitch rather than from their hand.
Tendulkar mentioned, “Wonderful all-round effort by Afghanistan led by a solid knock from @RGurbaz_21. Bad day for @ECB_cricket. Against quality spinners, you have to read them from their hand, which the England batters failed to do. They read them off the pitch instead, which I felt led to their downfall.”
He further applauded Afghanistan’s energy on the field, saying, “Loved the energy they carried on the field. Well played @ACBofficials!”
The young Rahmanullah Gurbaz, considered a batting sensation, received praise from Tendulkar for his impressive 80 off 57 balls in the match.
Rashid Khan, who struggled in the previous World Cup encounter against England in 2019, found his form in this game. He took three crucial wickets, finishing with figures of 3/37, and also contributed 23 runs with the bat. Rashid’s resurgence is a confidence boost for Afghanistan’s campaign in the tournament.