Australia confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, while Afghanistan are on the brink of an exit after their final group game was washed out. (Highlights | Full Coverage | More Cricket News)
Afghanistan have three points, and if South Africa lose, it will bring NRR into the equation, though Afghanistan’s NRR of -0.99 will most likely eliminate ꦰthem
Australia confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy, while Afghanistan are on the brink of an exit after their final group game was washed out. (Highlights | Full Coverage | More Cricket News)
Afghanistan had made a strong start, posting 273 from their i🐻nnings as they were led by Sediqullah Atal's 85, but rain stopped play in Australia's 13th over.
Spencer Johnson made a slightly rusty start in his first four balls, but💟 he made no mistake on the fifth, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck.
Atal looked confident despite missing in the early exchanges, and he helped steady the ship wit👍h his knock, which included six fours and three sixes. Afghanistan slipped slightly, as Ibrahim Zadran was caught on 22 before Rahmat Shah (12) was dropped to make it 🍰91-3 in the 18th over.
After Atal's exit, Azmatullah Omarzai boosted Afghanistan's hopes of reaching the semi-final with 67, but with four of the 💫last five batters failing to make it out of single figures thanks to Ben Dwarshuis (3-47), Australia were set a target of 274.
Matt Short got some luck at the start of Australia's innings, as Nangialai Kharote dropped him at 19, though two balls later, Gulbadi💙n Naib held on to end his stand at 20.
Travis Head (59 not out) raced to a quick half-century, with Steve Smith adding 19no to get Australia 💯to 109-1 in𝔉 their chase before the weather halted proceedings.
Australia are through to the final four with four points 🅺(won one, two washouts), but their final position in Group B will be affected by South Africa's result on Saturday, as they face already-elimi♉nated England.
Afghanistan have three points, and if South Africa lose, it will bring NRR into ไthe equation, though Afghanistan’s NRR of -0.99 will surely eliminate them.
Data Debrief: Downpour disappoints Afghanistan
🅰It was a high-stakes game for both sides, though Afghanistan knew anything less than a win could spell an early exit from the tournament.
Atal l🎃ed the early charge, but it was a land🤡mark day for Omarzai as well as he became the joint-third-fastest Afghan player to the 1000-run mark in ODIs (31 overs), after Zadran (24), Gurbaz (27) and Rahmat (31).