Australia advanced to the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals after their Group B match against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain, leaving Australia with 4 points from 3 matches. Afghanistan and South Africa each have 3 points, with South Africa set to play England next. If South Africa wins, they will top the group; a loss may give Afghanistan a chance depending on Net Run Rate (NRR). During the match, Australia was at 109 for 1, with Travis Head scoring 59 off 40 balls and Steve Smith adding 19 not out. Afghanistan set a competitive total of 273, led by Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai.
Australia secured their place in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals after their Group B clash against Afghanistan was washed out in Lahore on Friday. As a result, Australia amassed 4 points from 3 matches, while both Afghanistan and South Africa have 3 points each. Notably, South Africa has played one match less and will face England in their final Group B match on Saturday. If South Africa wins, they will join Australia in the semifinals as the group leader with 5 points.
Conversely, a loss for South Africa against England could leave a door open for Afghanistan, as the second semifinals spot from Group B would then hinge on the Net Run Rate (NRR). Currently, South Africa enjoys an advantage with a significantly superior NRR.
The match was interrupted by rain when Australia were at 109 for 1 in 12.5 overs, chasing a target of 274. Despite efforts from the ground staff to clear the field, persistent puddles remained on the pitch, leading the umpires to ultimately declare the match abandoned after an inspection.
The disruption occurred just one hour before the cut-off time to complete the game.
With the match called off, Australia advanced to the semifinals with four points. Their previous match against South Africa in Rawalpindi was also canceled.
At the point of interruption, Travis Head was in outstanding form, smashing 59 runs off 40 balls, including nine fours and one six.
His performance was boosted by a fortunate reprieve when Rashid Khan dropped him on six, diving at mid-on off Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Head took full advantage of this opportunity, overpowering the Afghanistan bowlers, especially hitting Farooqi for 28 runs off 17 balls.
Captain Steve Smith was at the other end, playing a more cautious innings with an unbeaten 19 runs from 22 balls, which included two boundaries.
With the match ending without a result, Afghanistan’s prospects are slim and will rely heavily on the outcome of Saturday’s match between South Africa and England.
If South Africa wins, they will top the group with five points.
Should England triumph, both South Africa and Afghanistan will finish with three points, necessitating a net run-rate (NRR) calculation.
Afghanistan’s current NRR of -0.99 would almost certainly result in their elimination unless South Africa loses by a margin exceeding 200 runs.
Earlier, Afghanistan set a competitive total of 273, primarily thanks to Sediqullah Atal’s resilient 85 and Azmatullah Omarzai’s explosive 67.
Atal steadied the innings after a shaky beginning, but it was Omarzai’s late-game heroics that pushed Afghanistan past the 270-mark after they were at 235 for 8 following Rashid Khan’s dismissal.
Under pressure, Omarzai’s 63-ball innings included five sixes and one four. He hit two massive sixes off Nathan Ellis in the penultimate over, one of which was an impressive 102m shot over midwicket that sailed over Glenn Maxwell at the boundary.
He then followed up with a towering six wide of long-off, helping Afghanistan finish strong, giving their spin-heavy bowling attack a notable total to defend.
Omarzai was dismissed in the last over by Ben Dwarshuis, who also took out Noor Ahmed on the final delivery of the day, finishing with figures of 3/47 from nine overs.
The world champions Australia also conceded 37 runs in extras, which included 17 wides.
(With PTI inputs)
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