Champions Trophy: Australia Advances to Semifinals as Rain Halts Match with Afghanistan
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Synopsis
Australia has advanced to the semifinals of the 2025 Champions Trophy after their match against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain. With this, Australia is through to the last-four stage, while Afghanistan's chances for progression dwindle.
Key Takeaways
- Australia secures semifinal spot in the 2025 Champions Trophy.
- Match against Afghanistan abandoned due to rain.
- Travis Head scored 59 runs before rain interrupted.
- Afghanistan needs a miracle to qualify for the semifinals.
- Sixth match involving Australia abandoned in the Champions Trophy.
Lahore, Feb 28 (NationPress) The current World Champion Australia has secured a spot in the semifinals of the 2025 Champions Trophy following the abandonment of their Group B match against Afghanistan due to rain at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. Consequently, Australia progresses to the last-four stage, while Afghanistan is near elimination from the tournament.
For Afghanistan, the situation is dire; they require a significant win by England of over 207 runs and hope for South Africa's net run rate to drop below theirs in order to qualify for the semifinals. This incident marks the sixth time a match involving Australia has been abandoned in the Champions Trophy.
The rain interrupted play when Australia was at 109/1 in 12.5 overs while chasing a target of 274 runs. Travis Head was instrumental in the chase, remaining unbeaten at 59 off 40 balls, while Steve Smith stood alongside him at 19 not out.
However, heavy rain fell for 30 minutes, creating significant puddles on the outfield. Umpires Alex Wharf and Kumar Dharmasena inspected the field at 8:45 PM local time and deemed the match unplayable due to wet conditions around the bowlers' run-up from the College End.
In pursuit of 274, Head and Matthew Short scored five boundaries in the first three overs, with Short hitting Azmatullah Omarzai for two fours and a six in the second over, totaling 14 runs. Head was nearly dismissed on six when Rashid Khan missed a catch at mid-on. He then struck Farooqui for both a four and a six.
Short was also given a lifeline at 19 when a substitute fielder, Kharote, dropped a chance at deep square leg off Omarzai. Shortly after, he was dismissed for 20.
After Steve Smith hit back-to-back boundaries, Head capitalized on favorable deliveries from Farooqi and Omarzai, scoring powerful boundaries to achieve his 17th ODI fifty in just 34 balls. Unfortunately, rain returned in the 13th over, ultimately bringing the game to an end.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan: 273 all out in 50 overs (Sediqullah Atal 85, Azmatullah Omarzai 67; Ben Dwarshuis 3-47, Adam Zampa 2-48) vs Australia: 109/1 in 12.5 overs (Travis Head 59 not out; Azmatullah Omarzai 1-43) – match abandoned due to rain.
