Australia has reached the semifinals of the 2025 Champions Trophy after their match against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain. They were chasing 274 runs and had scored 109 for 1 when play was halted. Afghanistan now faces elimination unless other results favor them.
Australia has secured their place in the semifinals of the 2025 Champions Trophy after their Group B match against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The reigning World Champions were chasing a target of 274 runs when rainfall halted play, resulting in Afghanistan facing imminent elimination from the tournament. They now rely on England winning by a significant margin and South Africa’s net run rate to drop below theirs for any chance of survival.
During the match, Australia was at 109 runs for the loss of one wicket after 12.5 overs, with Travis Head scoring a brisk 59 not out from 40 balls and Steve Smith not out on 19. The rain began falling heavily, leaving puddles on the field which prompted a match inspection that concluded the conditions were unplayable. This marks the sixth occasion in which a match involving Australia in the Champions Trophy has been abandoned.
In the early overs, Head and Matthew Short had forged an aggressive start, accumulating five boundaries within the first three overs. Despite Head being dropped early in his innings, he quickly found his rhythm, securing his 17th ODI fifty before the rain ultimately curtailed the match. Afghanistan had batted first, scoring 273 runs all out in their allotted 50 overs, with notable contributions from Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai, while Ben Dwarshuis was the standout bowler for Australia.
In summary, Australia’s advancement to the semifinals was confirmed due to an abandoned match against Afghanistan, which has left Afghanistan’s hopes dependent on future results. With rain disrupting play and Australia showing promising performance, the outcome emphasizes the unpredictability of weather conditions in cricket that can dramatically affect tournament progress.
Original Source: www.socialnews.xyz
