England will need to chase 326 target set by Afghanistan, thanks to a stunning final 10 overs.

Ibrahim Zadran smashed a historic 177 off 146 balls—the highest individual score in ICC Champions Trophy history—as Afghanistan posted a competitive 325/7 against England in Lahore.

Zadran’s innings, featuring 12 fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 121.23, provided stability after early wickets. He built a crucial 129-run partnership with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (40) before accelerating in the latter stages.

Late cameos from Azmatullah Omarzai (41 off 31) and Mohammad Nabi (40 off 24) pushed Afghanistan past 300, with the team scoring 59 runs in the last five overs.

England’s Jofra Archer (3/64) was the pick of the bowlers, while Liam Livingstone (2/28) struck twice in the final over to remove Nabi and Zadran.

England faces a stiff chase against a determined Afghan side eager to pull off an upset.

Earlier, Afghanistan had lost Hashmatullah Shahidi (40 off 67) at 140/4.

England’s bowlers have struggled to break the growing partnership. Mark Wood (6-0-24-0) and Liam Livingstone (4-0-26-0) remain wicketless, with the team looking for a breakthrough before the death overs.

After losing three wickets inside nine overs, the duo of Ibrahim Zadran and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi stabilized the innings with a crucial partnership.

Shahidi provided solid support with 40 off 67 balls.

Since Jofra Archer's early three wickets, England’s bowlers have found it tough to break the fourth-wicket stand, with spinners Joe Root and Adil Rashid unable to find a breakthrough so far.

Afghanistan struggled early against England, with the top order finding it tough against England’s pace attack.

Jofra Archer did most of the damage, claiming three wickets.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the first to fall, bowled by Archer for six in the fourth over. Sediqullah Atal followed soon after, trapped lbw by Archer for four. Rahmat Shah also failed to make an impact, departing for four after edging one to Adil Rashid at slip.

Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and opener Ibrahim Zadran face the task of rebuilding against England’s disciplined bowling attack. With the projected total at 223, Afghanistan will need a strong middle-order effort to post a competitive score.

Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first against England in the eighth match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Playing XI:

England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Afghanistan: Rahmatullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Both teams need to win today's vital contest to keep their hopes of progressing alive.

Weather forecast

The weather forecast for Lahore ahead of Afghanistan vs England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 suggests clear skies with no rain expected. Temperatures will remain in the 20s throughout the game, ensuring ideal playing conditions.

Pitch Report: Batting-Friendly Conditions Expected

The match will take place at Gaddafi Stadium, known for its batting-friendly surface. Historically, the pitch has offered little assistance to bowlers, with flat conditions favoring high scores.

The presence of dew in the second innings further tilts the balance towards batting, making it difficult for bowlers to exert significant influence.

A similar scenario unfolded in last week's clash between England and Australia at this venue. Despite posting 351 runs, England lost the match, with Josh Inglis scoring a match-winning century for Australia. Post-match, Inglis acknowledged that dew played a crucial role in aiding the Australian batters.

With dew expected to be a factor, both Afghanistan and England are likely to prefer chasing. Given the conditions, another high-scoring encounter could be on the cards.

ODI Head-to-head record

England and Afghanistan have faced off in three ODI encounters, with England leading the rivalry 2-1.

• Matches Played: 3
• England Wins: 2
• Afghanistan Wins: 1