England vs Afghanistan LIVE: Cricket World Cup result and reaction as reigning champions suffer shock defeat
Follow all the action from Arun Jaitley Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.England’s title defence of the Cricket World Cup is in real trouble after losing to Afghanistan by 69 runs in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history. Afghanistan were dismissed for 284 in Delhi, but bowled out England for 215 with 9.3 overs left. Only Harry Brook offered serious resistance with a 61-ball 66.
The Afghans celebrated only their second-ever win at the World Cup, the other coming against Scotland in 2015 in their first appearance.England have now lost two of their opening three group games, having been thrashed by New Zealand in the tournament opener.
Gurbaz gave the underdogs an explosive start after being sent in by Jos Buttler, dominating a rapid opening stand of 114 and piling on 80 in 57 balls.
But they lost three wickets in 14 balls to throw away much of their good work, Adil Rashid taking the first two before Gurbaz was mindlessly run out by his captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.
He had lit up the lively Arun Jaitley Stadium with his fearless strokeplay, but without his impetus England were able to gain a foothold. They bowled their opponents out for 284 off the penultimate ball of the innings, but there were plenty of question marks over the bowling attack - and even more over the subsequent batting performance.
Follow all the latest live reaction from today’s match in the live blog below and check the latest odds here:
England vs Afghanistan
22.2
Rashid Khan to Sam Curran. Googly length ball, middle stump on the back foot driving, to mid off for no runs, fielded by Zurmatai.
England vs Afghanistan
22.1
Rashid Khan to Sam Curran. Leg spinner length ball, down leg side on the front foot working, hit pad to short fine leg for no runs, fielded by Omarzai.
England vs Afghanistan
21.6
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sam Curran. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot working, to mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Shahidi.
England vs Afghanistan
21.5
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sam Curran. Out-swinging back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot Steer, to backward point for no runs, fielded by Zadran.
England vs Afghanistan LIVE
Michael Vaughan speaking to BBC Sport:
“The problem is a lot of balls are staying low and skidding on to the stumps. Afghanistan have just kept finding that length. This is not going to be easy for England.
And former England bowler Steven Finn:
“Afghanistan have been so tenacious here. They have Rashid Khan to bowl at the lower order and England’s tail is slightly longer than usual because they played the extra bowler.”
England vs Afghanistan
21.4
Azmatullah Omarzai to Harry Brook. Out-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, to deep point for 1 run, fielded by Khan.
England vs Afghanistan
21.2
Azmatullah Omarzai to Harry Brook. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot working, inside edge to short mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Zurmatai.
England vs Afghanistan
21.1
Azmatullah Omarzai to Harry Brook. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot defending, to point for no runs, fielded by Zadran.
England vs Afghanistan
20.6
Rashid Khan to Harry Brook. Googly length ball, off stump on the back foot driving, to mid on for 1 run, fielded by Zurmatai.
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