Watch: Jofra Archer castles Rahmanullah Gurbaz with a thunderbolt in CT 2025

England National Cricket Team pacer Jofra Archer has taken his team off to a flying start with the ball in the ongoing game against the Afghanistan National Cricket Team. The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 clash between the teams is taking place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Afghanistan and England are clashing with each other in the 8th match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It is a virtual knockout between the teams as both of them lost their first games and a loss here in the match would mean curtains for them in the tournament.

England were put into the field first and the pacers in Jofra Archer and Mark Wood looked absolutely threatening with the ball. The duo has swung the ball both ways at a raw pace and has troubled the Afghanistan National Cricket Team batters.

Jofra Archer troubles Afghanistan batters with his pace

While Mark Wood has been unlucky to take wickets, Jofra Archer has ensured that he, along with restricting run flow, also provides his team with crucial breakthroughs. The premier pacer drew the first blood for his team after he removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz with a peach in 5th over.

Archer bowled a 139.1kph full-length ball outside off, swinging in, to which Rahmanullah Gurbaz looked to drive it through covers with minimal foot movement. However, he managed only an inside edge, which went on to crash into the leg stump.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was kept back on his toes by the extra pace of Jofra Archer at the back of a length. The pacer, this time, delivered a full ball, and the batter's front foot didn't move towards the line of the ball nicely. He was caught on the crease as the ball went on to shatter his stumps.

Watch: Jofra Archer sends Rahmanullah Gurbaz packing with a thunderbolt in Lahore

Here's the video:

SHEER PACE! 🔥#RahmanullahGurbaz had no answers to #JofraArcher's pace & accuracy! ⚡

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— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 26, 2025

Rahmanullah Gurbaz didn't have a great outing with bat, as he was back in the hut after scoring just 6 runs. With his wicket, Afghanistan National Cricket Team lost their opening wicket for just 11 runs and inside the first five overs.

Jofra Archer picks three wickets in the first six overs

After taking the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Jofra Archer didn't stop there as he went on to remove Sediqullah Atal in the same over. The fast bowler trapped the young batter in lbw and put his team in a dominating position in the crucial game of the tournament.

Archer after that picked his third wicket inside the powerplay. The right-arm pacer removed Rahmat Shah for just 4 runs. He bowled a short ball to which the batter attempted to pull and was caught near the boundary ropes.

Archer, in his first spell, bowled 6 overs and ended up giving just 22 runs along with picking three wickets. He would be vital for the England National Cricket Team in the death as they would be eyeing to end Afghanistan's innings as early as possible.

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