Opener Ibrahim Zadran struck a Champions Trophy record of 177 to lift Afghanistan from an early wobble to 325-7 against England in a group match in Lahore on Wednesday. The Group B clash at the Gaddafi Stadium is effectively a knockout with the losing team out of the semi-final race of the 50-over tournament. Playing under the cloud of boycott calls from some British politicians over the plight of women in the Taliban-ruled nation, Afghanistan elected to bat in a bid to bounce back from their opening loss. But they soon slipped to 37-3 inside nine overs before Zadran pulled the innings together with a fourth-wicket partnership of 103 with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made 40. Zadran later added 111 for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Nabi, who hit 40 in 24 balls.
Highest individual scores in Champions Trophy
177 Ibrahim Zadran 100 vs Eng Lahore 2025
165 Ben Duckett vs Aus Lahore 2025
145*Nathan Astle vs USA The Oval 2004
145 Andy Flower vs Ind Colombo RPS 2002
141*Sourav Ganguly vs SA Nairobi 2000
141 Sachin Tendulkar vs Aus Dhaka 1998
141 Graeme Smith vs Eng Centurion 2009
Zadran, 23, took apart the England bowling and went past his previous ODI best of 162 in his 146-ball knock laced with 12 fours and six sixes.
He not only broke his own record for Afghanistan's highest individual ODI score but also a tournament record, days after Ben Duckett's 165 in England's opening loss to Australia.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer struck three early blows including two in one over starting with Rahmanullah Gurbaz bowled for six.
Jofra and new-ball partner Mark Wood worked up fast speeds between 145 kmph and 150 kmph but were soon jolted by an injury to Wood, who twice left the field.
Wood's absence after bowling just four
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