In a crucial Champions Trophy 2025 match, Afghanistan took on Australia in their final Group B game, with Afghanistan needing a win to qualify for the semi-finals. Australia had a slim chance of advancing if they lost. Pacer Spencer Johnson made an impressive debut, dismissing Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz with a brilliant yorker in the first over. Johnson’s performance drew comparisons to Mitchell Starc from commentator Ian Smith. Afghanistan secured confidence from their recent victory over England, while Australia faced pressure after a rain-affected match with South Africa. Both teams aimed for a strong showing in this virtual knockout match.
In the final Group B match of the Champions Trophy 2025, Afghanistan takes on Australia in a decisive encounter that feels like a knockout match. Afghanistan must win to advance to the semi-finals, while Australia will only have a slim chance of qualifying if they lose. Australia, however, started perfectly. Bowling first, pacer Spencer Johnson dismissed Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the very first over with an excellent yorker. Commentator Ian Smith praised Johnson highly.
Johnson, bowling the opening over, needed just five balls to breach Gurbaz’s defense. He delivered a toe-crushing yorker that shattered Gurbaz’s stumps.
Interestingly, both Johnson and Gurbaz will soon be teammates, having been acquired by the reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Commentator Ian Smith’s immediate comparison added to the moment’s significance.
“What a ripper that is. That’s (Mitchell) Starc-like! That’s how good that is,” exclaimed Smith.
Watch: Spencer Johnson’s stunning delivery to Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Goneee!#SpencerJohnson sends #RahmanullahGurbaz packing with a brilliant yorker!
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Johnson is one of three replacement pacers in Australia’s 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy, as their frontline pacers – Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and captain Pat Cummins – are absent from the tournament.
Hazlewood was ruled out due to an injury sustained during the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, while Cummins also faced an injury following the fifth Test.
Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc opted out for personal reasons, which he later clarified was to maintain his fitness for the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June and IPL 2025.
Afghanistan heads into the match against Australia with confidence, having recently triumphed over another top cricket nation. They defeated England by 8 runs in their previous Champions Trophy 2025 match, eliminating England from the semi-final race.
With a sensational 177 runs from Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan amassed a total of 325 runs, which England could not chase down. All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai contributed significantly with five wickets.
In contrast, Australia faces complications after their match against South Africa was abandoned due to rain.
Afghanistan playing XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Australia playing XI: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
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