Australia’s Travis Head, left, celebrates with Steve Smith after hitting a boundary during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Australia and Afghanistan, in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)
The crucial match between Australia and Afghanistan was halted in Lahore due to rain with the 2023 ODI World Cup winners in a great position in their 273-run chase, scoring 109/1 in 12.5 overs. Travis Head was in blistering form, scoring 59 off 40 before the rain interrupted play.
In Group B, Afghanistan, Australia and South Africa are still in the semifinals race while England were knocked out of the tournament on Wednesday when they lost to Afghanistan which led to their captain Jos Buttler tp step down on Friday, one day before their final match of the tournament against the Proteas.
What happens if the rain washes out AUS vs AFG
If the rain washes out the match between Australia and Afghanistan, then the Steve Smith-led side will qualify for the semifinals while Afghanistan will have to wait for the England vs South Africa result. Both Afghanistan and South Africa will have three points each then but the Proteas have a much better run rate than Afghanistan. In order for Afghanistan to qualify, they need England to beat South Africa by at least 200 runs. If South Africa wins, the Temba Bavuma-led side are through to the final.
Why is there no DLS method?
The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method will not come into effect in this match because there should be a minimum of 20 overs bowled in an innings. However, the match was halted by the rain in the 12.5 overs so the DLS method will not come into play.
Earlier, Sediqullah Atal hit 85 off 95 balls, while Azmatullah Omarzai (67 off 63) played a fine cameo in the middle-order to steer Afghanistan to a competitive 273 all out against Australia.
Electing to bat, Afghanistan lost opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz early before last-match centurion Ibrahim Zadran (22) and Atal steadied the ship with a 69-run stand for the second wicket.
Omarzai then held the fort in the middle overs with a gutsy half-century to give Afghanistan bowlers a score to defend.
Story continues below this ad
For Australia, Ben Dwarshuis (3/47) picked up three wickets, including two in the last over, while Spencer Johnson (2/49) and leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2/48) took two wickets apiece.
