Australia reach semis after rain ends Afghanistan game

LAHORE: World Champions Australia were through to the semifinal of the Champions Trophy 2025 after their match against Afghanistan was abandoned following a heavy spell of rain that left the Gaddafi Stadium outfield waterlogged enough to play a spoiler here on Friday night.

Chasing a target of 274 runs, Australia assessing the rainy conditions played with an average of above eight and reached their fifty in 4.3 overs and clobbered 100 in 12 overs for the loss of one wicket while they were at 109 for one in12.5 overs when the game was halted.

However, in the 13th over when five balls were thrown by Noor Ahmed yielding nine runs, heaven opened to such an intensity that all the stands filled with fans were emptied promptly because there were no shades at this newly transformed stadium. And even if the Duckworth Lewis method had applied, Australia was way above Afghanistan in run-rate.

At 7.45 as the drizzle subsided, ground staff uncovered the ground and initiated the field drying process with one super-sopper operating. As the cut-off time was set for 10.10 pm, the inspection was carried out at 8.45 and afterwards when the umpires found out that the field in not healthy enough for a safe play and could not be ready by the specified time, the match was declared abandoned. With that both teams were awarded one point each with Australia now having four points, they were through to the semifinals. As of Afghanistan, they have three points but with lightly low run-rate, they are a number three team on points table behind South Africa that too have three points.

In reply, Australia was off to a solid start getting 44 runs before losing their first wicket. Matthew Short (20 in 15 balls, 3x4, 1x6) became the victim of Azmatullah Omarzai in the fifth over. Travis Head and skipper Steven Smith were at the crease with an unbeaten partnership of 65 runs when umpires called the players off the field. Head, who completed his 17th ODI half century in 34 balls, was playing at 59 and Smith was at playing 19.

Opting to bat first, Afghanistan managed to post a total of 273 runs despite a slow start and tight bowling from the Australian bowlers. Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai were the standout performers for Afghanistan. Atal, surpassing his second ODI half-century, scored 85 runs off 95 balls, including nine boundaries including three sixes. Azmatullah Omarzai played a crucial late cameo, contributing 67 runs off 63 balls with five sixes and a four.

Atal also developed a valuable second-wicket partnership of 67 runs with Ibrahim Zardan before the latter was dismissed by Adam Zampa for 22 runs in the 14th over. Afghanistan found themselves at 70 for two after initially losing a wicket on the fifth ball of the innings. As Atal held one end firm, he witnessed Rahmat Shah (12) and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (20) succumb to the pressure exerted by the Australian bowlers.

Down the order, Azmatullah Omarzai produced his eighth one-day half-century to consolidate the team’s total. Before forming a second valuable partnership, Azmatullah saw the cheap dismissals of Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib, leaving Afghanistan at 199 for seven. He then gathered 36 useful runs for the eighth wicket alongside Rashid Khan, who contributed 19 runs before being dismissed.

With eight wickets down at 235 by the 46th over, Azmatullah and the remaining batters accelerated the scoring. At 272, Azmatullah lost his wicket after reaching 67 off 63 balls. Noor Ahmed was the last batter to be dismissed, while Fazalhaq Farooqi remained not out.

Ben Dwarshuis was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking three wickets for 47 runs in nine overs. Spencer Johnson and Adam Zampa claimed two wickets each, conceding 49 and 48 runs respectively. Nathan Ellis and Glenn Maxwell chipped in with one wicket each.

On Saturday (today), South Africa will take on England in Karachi, while Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium will host the second semi-final on March 5.