Jofra Archer’s three-wicket burst left Afghanistan on 37 for three in one of two clashes England must win to avoid Group B elimination after losing their tournament opener to Australia at the weekend.
Wood’s absence meant Liam Livingstone was entrusted with the 50th over and he claimed a couple of cheap wickets, including Zadran, who clattered six sixes and a dozen fours in a 146-ball knock that is a new tournament record, overtaking Ben Duckett’s 165 made against Australia at the weekend.
The build-up saw England face pressure to boycott this contest in protest at the scaling-back of women’s rights in Afghanistan but, after the England and Wales Cricket Board rejected the calls, Buttler wished for this game to be a “source of hope” during an “obviously a tough time”.
It was a rare moment of relief for England with Wood slower in his second spell and expensive while Archer saw his penultimate over disappear for 20 as Zadran and Mohammad Nabi (40 off 24 balls) made hay.
But that was about as good as it got for England as Afghanistan rebuilt through Zadran anchoring the innings and they added 222 runs off the last 25 overs and 113 from the final 10 to post 325 for seven.
