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 LIVE
England are through 20 overs and it isn’t going well at all - some soft wickets falling and none of Bairstow, Root or Buttler managing to breach even a dozen runs.
And it gets worst...Livingstone also falls for ten now! It goes to a review but it’s not overturned and 117-5 is a very poor scoreline for England to be looking at.
Harry Brook is carrying the fight on 41 not out; he’ll now be joined by Sam Curran.
England vs Afghanistan
20.4
OUT! L.B.W. Rashid Khan to Liam Livingstone. Leg spinner length ball, off stump on the front foot working, hit pad.
England vs Afghanistan
20.3
Rashid Khan to Liam Livingstone. Googly length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, mis-timed to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Shahidi.
England vs Afghanistan
20.2
Rashid Khan to Harry Brook. Googly length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, to long on for 1 run, fielded by Zurmatai.
England vs Afghanistan
20.1
Rashid Khan to Liam Livingstone. Leg spinner length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, to cover for 1 run, fielded by Shahidi.
England vs Afghanistan
19.6
Azmatullah Omarzai to Harry Brook. In-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, to mid on for no runs, fielded by Nabi.
England vs Afghanistan
19.4
Azmatullah Omarzai to Liam Livingstone. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, to point for no runs, fielded by Zadran.
England vs Afghanistan
19.2
FOUR! Azmatullah Omarzai to Harry Brook. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot sweeping, well timed past deep backward point for 4 runs.
England vs Afghanistan
18.6
Rashid Khan to Liam Livingstone. Leg spinner half volley, outside off stump on the front foot working, to long on for 1 run, fielded by Zurmatai.
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