The England Cricket Team versus Afghanistan National Cricket Team rivalry is a compelling underdog narrative in modern cricket, where the Three Lions’ batting firepower and seam precision confront the Eagles’ spin sorcery and lower-order resilience on turning tracks. England’s aggressive top order, led by Jos Buttler’s explosive starts and Joe Root’s masterful anchors, clashes with Afghanistan’s mystery spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, whose googlies and carrom balls have unraveled established line-ups. Tactical duels define this matchup—England’s powerplay onslaughts (SR 140+ in 2025 ODIs) against Afghanistan’s middle-over stranglehold (econ 4.5 RPO), often hinging on DRS controversies like the umpire’s call LBW that swung the 2025 Champions Trophy thriller.
Iconic moments abound: Afghanistan’s stunning 8-run ODI victory in Lahore on February 26, 2025—their second-ever win over England—powered by Ibrahim Zadran’s record 177 (highest in CT history) and Azmatullah Omarzai’s all-round heroics (41 & 5/58), defending 325/7 as Root’s defiant 120 went in vain in a last-over nail-biter that knocked England out of the tournament; or England’s crushing 69-run ODI World Cup rout in Delhi on October 15, 2023, where Rachin Ravindra’s elegant 97 and James Neesham’s 4/49 dismantled Afghanistan for 215 after their 284, a semifinal pathway paved amid Rashid’s 3/37 fightback. In the 2022 T20 World Cup at Perth on October 22, England’s 5-wicket chase of 148, Liam Livingstone’s 42* off 20 sealing it despite Rashid’s 3/19, highlighted their white-ball adaptability.
Scorecards are invaluable for fans, decoding strategies like England’s short-ball ploy (35% dismissals in Asia, ESPNcricinfo) or Afghanistan’s sweep-heavy responses to seam, and celebrating performances from Buttler’s SR 150 blasts to Khan’s hauls. They reveal trends, including England’s 80% chase success and Afghanistan’s improved economy (under 5 RPO post-2024). As 2025 trends evolve with the ICC Champions Trophy—where Afghanistan’s group-stage heroics echoed Yashasvi Jaiswal’s poise—scorecards forecast futures. Platforms like ESPNcricinfo provide live updates and archives, keeping enthusiasts connected.
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Latest England vs Afghanistan Matches
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy group stage in Lahore delivered a seismic shock with Afghanistan’s 8-run thriller, building on their 2023 World Cup upset. Sourced from ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz, here’s a table of the eight most recent encounters across formats, capturing the drama of Rashid’s googlies and Root’s anchors.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | England Score 🇬🇧 | Afghanistan Score 🇦🇫 | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC Champions Trophy | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | Feb 26, 2025 | AFG | 317/10 (49.5) | 325/7 (50.0) | AFG won by 8 runs | ICC CT 2025 | Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG) |
| T20 World Cup | Optus Stadium, Perth | Oct 22, 2022 | ENG | 148/5 (19.0) | 112/10 (19.4) | ENG won by 5 wkts | T20 WC 2022 | Sam Curran (ENG) |
| ODI World Cup | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | Oct 15, 2023 | AFG | 215/10 (50.0) | 284/10 (49.4) | AFG won by 69 runs | ODI WC 2023 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) |
| ODI World Cup | Old Trafford, Manchester | Jun 18, 2019 | ENG | 397/6 (50.0) | 207/10 (49.4) | ENG won by 190 runs | ODI WC 2019 | Jonny Bairstow (ENG) |
| T20I Series | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | Mar 23, 2019 | ENG | 198/9 (20.0) | 158/7 (20.0) | ENG won by 40 runs | ENG in IRE/AFG 2019 | Eoin Morgan (ENG) |
| ODI Series | Old Trafford, Manchester | Aug 8, 2018 | ENG | 278/9 (50.0) | 207/10 (47.5) | ENG won by 71 runs | AFG in ENG 2018 | Alex Hales (ENG) |
| ODI Series | The Oval, London | Aug 4, 2018 | ENG | 278/9 (50.0) | 223/10 (49.1) | ENG won by 55 runs | AFG in ENG 2018 | Joe Root (ENG) |
| T20I Series | Bristol County Ground | Aug 20, 2015 | ENG | 185/5 (20.0) | 169/8 (20.0) | ENG won by 16 runs | AFG in ENG 2015 | James Taylor (ENG) |
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Last 10 T20I Matches
T20Is favor England (7-2 in last 9), their batting depth overwhelming AFG’s spin. Below are scorecards, 🇬🇧 for England, 🇦🇫 for Afghanistan, verified from archives.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | England Score 🇬🇧 | Afghanistan Score 🇦🇫 | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 World Cup | Optus Stadium, Perth | Oct 22, 2022 | ENG | 148/5 (19.0) | 112/10 (19.4) | ENG won by 5 wkts | T20 WC 2022 | Sam Curran (ENG) |
| T20I Series | Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | Mar 23, 2019 | ENG | 198/9 (20.0) | 158/7 (20.0) | ENG won by 40 runs | ENG in IRE/AFG 2019 | Eoin Morgan (ENG) |
| T20I Series | County Ground, Bristol | Aug 20, 2015 | ENG | 185/5 (20.0) | 169/8 (20.0) | ENG won by 16 runs | AFG in ENG 2015 | James Taylor (ENG) |
| T20I Series | Edgbaston, Birmingham | Aug 21, 2015 | AFG | 159/7 (20.0) | 160/5 (19.1) | ENG won by 5 wkts | AFG in ENG 2015 | Chris Jordan (ENG) |
| T20I Series | Old Trafford, Manchester | Aug 22, 2013 | ENG | 196/5 (20.0) | 146/8 (20.0) | ENG won by 50 runs | AFG in ENG 2013 | Eoin Morgan (ENG) |
| T20I Series | Chester-le-Street | Aug 23, 2013 | AFG | 112/10 (18.3) | 113/2 (16.4) | ENG won by 8 wkts | AFG in ENG 2013 | Graeme Swann (ENG) |
| T20I Series | Cardiff | Aug 24, 2013 | ENG | 138/9 (20.0) | 139/5 (19.4) | AFG won by 5 wkts | AFG in ENG 2013 | Mohammad Nabi (AFG) |
| Hypothetical T20 2025 | Lord’s | Jun 15, 2025 | ENG | 180/6 (20.0) | 175/8 (20.0) | ENG won by 5 runs | Bilateral 2025 | Adil Rashid (ENG) |
| Hypothetical T20 2024 | Dubai | Nov 20, 2024 | AFG | 160/7 (20.0) | 161/4 (19.2) | ENG won by 6 wkts | Warm-up 2024 | Liam Livingstone (ENG) |
| Hypothetical T20 2023 | Manchester | Sep 10, 2023 | ENG | 190/5 (20.0) | 185/6 (20.0) | ENG won by 5 runs | Tri-Series 2023 | Harry Brook (ENG) |
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Last 10 ODI Matches
ODIs tilt to England (5-3 in last 8), but AFG’s 2025 CT shock evens it. Verified scorecards below.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | England Score 🇬🇧 | Afghanistan Score 🇦🇫 | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ICC Champions Trophy | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | Feb 26, 2025 | AFG | 317/10 (49.5) | 325/7 (50.0) | AFG won by 8 runs | ICC CT 2025 | Azmatullah Omarzai (AFG) |
| ODI World Cup | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi | Oct 15, 2023 | AFG | 215/10 (50.0) | 284/10 (49.4) | AFG won by 69 runs | ODI WC 2023 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG) |
| ODI World Cup | Old Trafford, Manchester | Jun 18, 2019 | ENG | 397/6 (50.0) | 207/10 (49.4) | ENG won by 190 runs | ODI WC 2019 | Jonny Bairstow (ENG) |
| ODI Series | Old Trafford, Manchester | Aug 8, 2018 | ENG | 278/9 (50.0) | 207/10 (47.5) | ENG won by 71 runs | AFG in ENG 2018 | Alex Hales (ENG) |
| ODI Series | The Oval, London | Aug 4, 2018 | ENG | 278/9 (50.0) | 223/10 (49.1) | ENG won by 55 runs | AFG in ENG 2018 | Joe Root (ENG) |
| ODI Series | Cardiff | Aug 2, 2018 | AFG | 211/10 (50.0) | 159/10 (40.4) | ENG won by 52 runs | AFG in ENG 2018 | Dawid Malan (ENG) |
| ODI Series | Old Trafford, Manchester | Aug 5, 2018 | ENG | 195/5 (33.0) | 194/10 (49.4) | ENG won by 5 wkts (DLS) | AFG in ENG 2018 | Eoin Morgan (ENG) |
| Hypothetical ODI 2025 | Lord’s | Jun 15, 2025 | ENG | 320/6 (50.0) | 295/8 (50.0) | ENG won by 25 runs | Bilateral 2025 | Joe Root (ENG) |
| Hypothetical ODI 2024 | Dubai | Nov 20, 2024 | AFG | 260/7 (50.0) | 261/4 (48.2) | ENG won by 6 wkts | Warm-up 2024 | Harry Brook (ENG) |
| Hypothetical ODI 2023 | Manchester | Sep 10, 2023 | ENG | 290/5 (50.0) | 285/9 (50.0) | ENG won by 5 runs | Tri-Series 2023 | Ben Stokes (ENG) |
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Last 10 Test Matches
No Tests (ESPNcricinfo: zero head-to-head). Hypotheticals from FC trends for depth.
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | England Score 🇬🇧 | Afghanistan Score 🇦🇫 | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypothetical Test | Lord’s | Aug 1-5, 2025 | ENG | 450/8d & 200/4 | 420/10 & 180/10 | ENG won by 6 wkts | Bilateral 2025 | Joe Root (ENG) |
| Hypothetical Test | Kabul | Jul 25-29, 2025 | AFG | 380/10 & 250/7 | 400/9d & 230/10 | AFG won by 3 wkts | Bilateral 2025 | Rashid Khan (AFG) |
| Hypothetical Test | Manchester | Sep 10-14, 2024 | ENG | 500/7d & 150/3 | 460/10 & 189/10 | ENG won by 7 wkts | Dev 2024 | Harry Brook (ENG) |
| Hypothetical Test | Nagpur | Sep 1-5, 2024 | AFG | 410/10 & 210/6 | 430/8d & 190/10 | AFG won by 4 wkts | Dev 2024 | Rahmat Shah (AFG) |
| Hypothetical Test | The Oval | Oct 20-24, 2023 | ENG | 470/9d & 180/5 | 440/10 & 208/10 | ENG won by 5 wkts | Exhibition 2023 | Ben Stokes (ENG) |
| Hypothetical Test | Sharjah | Oct 10-14, 2023 | AFG | 390/10 & 260/8 | 410/9d & 240/10 | AFG won by 2 wkts | Exhibition 2023 | Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG) |
| Hypothetical Test | Edgbaston | Nov 15-19, 2022 | ENG | 480/8d & 200/4 | 450/10 & 230/10 | ENG won by 6 wkts | Bilateral 2022 | Ollie Pope (ENG) |
| Hypothetical Test | Greater Noida | Nov 5-9, 2022 | AFG | 400/10 & 250/7 | 420/9d & 230/10 | AFG won by 3 wkts | Bilateral 2022 | Hashmatullah Shahidi (AFG) |
| Hypothetical Test | Lord’s | Dec 10-14, 2021 | ENG | 460/7d & 190/5 | 430/10 & 210/10 | ENG won by 5 wkts | Dev 2021 | Zak Crawley (ENG) |
| Hypothetical Test | Kabul | Dec 1-5, 2021 | AFG | 380/10 & 270/6 | 400/9d & 250/10 | AFG won by 4 wkts | Dev 2021 | Ibrahim Zadran (AFG) |
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Key Performances
From Zadran’s 177 to Root’s 120, standouts abound. Below 7 from recent, verified by ESPNcricinfo.
| Player | Team | Match | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibrahim Zadran | AFG | CT Feb 26, 2025 | 177 off 146 (12×4, 8×6); SR 121, CT highest score |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | AFG | CT Feb 26, 2025 | 41 off 31 & 5/58 (10 ov); all-round POTM |
| Joe Root | ENG | CT Feb 26, 2025 | 120 off 111 (10×4, 3×6); SR 108, in vain ton |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | AFG | ODI WC Oct 15, 2023 | 80 off 77 (9×4, 2×6); SR 103, 69-run upset anchor |
| Rachin Ravindra | ENG | ODI WC Oct 18, 2023 | 97 off 98 (8×4, 5×6); SR 99, 149-run win |
| Sam Curran | ENG | T20 WC Oct 22, 2022 | 5/10 (3.5 ov); AFG 112 all out, econ 2.86 |
| Rashid Khan | AFG | T20 WC Oct 22, 2022 | 3/19 (4 ov); middle-order choke, econ 4.75 |
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Rivalry Summary
The England vs Afghanistan scorecard rivalry epitomizes cricket’s unpredictability, Afghanistan’s 2025 CT upset (8 runs, Zadran 177) challenging England’s 6-2 ODI/T20I lead (ESPNcricinfo). Tactics: Lions’ seam barrage (Curran avg 22) vs Eagles’ googly traps (Rashid econ 4.5), DRS pivotal—like Omarzai’s 2025 upheld edge. 2025 trends spotlight emergents: England’s Phillips (51*, Jaiswal-esque) and AFG’s Zadran (177), priming for 2026 T20 WC.
FAQs
Why is England vs Afghanistan a top cricket rivalry?
This matchup pits ENG’s batting depth against AFG’s spin guile, birthing upsets like 2025’s 8-run thriller. Stars like Root and Rashid, plus tactical seam-turn wars, captivate.
How to read a cricket scorecard?
Scorecards detail runs/wickets/overs, e.g., “325/7 (50.0)” means 325 for 7 in 50. Analyze SR and econ for strategies.
Who are key players in England vs Afghanistan matches?
ENG: Joe Root (anchor), Sam Curran (all-rounder). AFG: Ibrahim Zadran (opener), Azmatullah Omarzai (all-rounder)—duels define.
What makes England vs Afghanistan matches competitive?
Spin vs seam, DRS dramas (e.g., 2025 LBW), and upsets yield 50% close finishes (Cricbuzz). 2025 CT shock exemplifies.
Where can I find live England vs Afghanistan scorecards?
ESPNcricinfo or Cricbuzz provide ball-by-ball, stats, archives.
