Cricket analysis

In a dramatic turn of events at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Afghanistan delivered a stunning blow to England’s Champions Trophy campaign, sealing an eight-run victory in a high-intensity contest. The defeat saw England bow out of the tournament, extending their struggles in major ICC events, while Afghanistan celebrated another milestone victory following their World Cup triumph over the same opposition in 2023.

South Africa registered a convincing 107-run victory over Afghanistan in their first match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Chasing a formidable target of 316 runs, Afghanistan was bowled out for 208 in their allotted 50 overs, with Kagiso Rabada leading the charge with three wickets. Wiaan Mulder and Lungi Ngidi each picked up two wickets to complement the pace attack, ensuring that Afghanistan's chase never gained any real momentum.

Explore the significance of Cooper Connolly's debut in the Australian Test team against Sri Lanka, including insights into team selection strategies, the impact of three specialist bowlers on gameplay, and key performances from Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc. This analysis delves into the evolving dynamics of the Australian bowling attack and the critical importance of first innings runs in shaping the series outcome against Sri Lanka.