LAHORE: Australia has sealed its place in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals after their last group-stage fixture against Afghanistan was washed out due to rain on Friday.
Australia were in total control of the chase when rain arrived. The Aussies have scored 109-1 in 12.5 overs courtesy of Travis Head’s brilliant batting, who smashed 59 runs off 40 balls. His innings included nine fours and one six.
The openers, Matthew Short and Head, gave a flying start to Australia’s pursuit of 274. The duo put together a brisk 44-run stand in 4.3 overs, until all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed the former, giving Afghanistan a much needed breakthrough.
Short scored 20 off 15 deliveries, laced with three fours and one six.
After the wicket, the skipper Steve Smith joined Head and added 65 runs to take Australia to a commanding position. Smith (19) and Head (59) remained unbeaten till rain arrived.
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As a result, Australia secured a semi-final spot and finished with four points, and their remaining two matches ended without Results.
The two-time champions are the first team from Group B to secure a spot in the Final Four.
On the other hand, Afghanistan still has a chance in the tournament, even if England wins against South Africa on Saturday, since Afghanistan is considerably trailing the Proteas in net run rate. run rate.
Earlier, Sediqullah Atal’s half-century and Azmatullah Omarzai’s blitz powered Afghanistan to 273 against Australia in the crucial encounter of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which was played here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
After opting to bat in overcast conditions, Afghanistan were bowled out on 273 in their allotted 50 overs.
Sediqullah Atal remained the top scorer with 85 off 95 balls, laced with half a dozen fours and three sixes.
Although Mitchell Starc is not part of Australia’s squad for the multi-nation tournament, Spencer Johnson delivered a Starc-like identical yorker on the fifth ball of the opening over to end Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s innings on a duck.
Ibrahim Zadran, the centurion from the previous match, joined Sediqullah Atal to steady Afghanistan with a 67-run stand for the second wicket. The duo lifted their team to 70-2 in 13.3 overs in pace-friendly conditions.
Adam Zampa broke the crucial partnership with the wicket of Zadran (22). It was not too long for Australia to strike again as Rahmat Shah (12) was caught behind off Glenn Maxwell’s bowling, leaving Afghanistan in deep trouble on a score of 91-3.
But Sediqullah remained firm at one end and scored a vital half-century. He added a 68-run partnership with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, before being dismissed in the 31st over.
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Wickets fell regularly for Afghanistan; they were 199-7 in 39 overs at one stage. But Azmatullah Omarzai’s (67) blitz lower down the order took his team to a competitive total of 273.
For Australia, Ben Dwarshuis remained the stand-out bowler with his figures of 3-47 in his ten overs. Spencer Johnson and Adam Zampa bagged two wickets apiece.
Playing XIs
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey(w), Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson
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