Champions Trophy: Australia Secure Semifinal Spot as Rain Washes Out Afghanistan Clash

Reigning World Champions Australia reached the semifinals of the 2025 Champions Trophy after their Group B match against Afghanistan was washed out because of rain at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

With this win, Australia confirmed their position in the last four, and Afghanistan's hopes are now left hanging by a thread.

For Afghanistan to remain in the running, they need a very unlikely result—England needs to beat South Africa by more than 207 runs, and South Africa's net run rate needs to fall below theirs. This game also saw the sixth time a match involving Australia was abandoned in the tournament's history.

Prior to rain coming in and putting a halt to play, Australia were set nicely at 109/1 off 12.5 overs while pursuing a target of 274. Travis Head was leading the charge with an unbeaten 59 from 40 deliveries, supported by Steve Smith, who was left on 19 not out.

A heavy downpour lasted 30 minutes, leaving significant puddles on the field. Despite an inspection at 8:45 PM local time by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Kumar Dharmasena, the game was called off due to wet patches around the bowlers’ run-up at the College End.

Match Summary:

Pursuing 274, Australia made a fiery beginning with Head and Matthew Short hitting the boundary five times in the first three overs. Short hit Azmatullah Omarzai for two fours and a six in a 14-run second over. Head received an early piece of luck when Rashid Khan dropped him at mid-on when he was on six, only for him to retaliate by hitting Fazalhaq Farooqi for a four and six.

Short was also given a lifeline on 19 when replacement fielder Kharote dropped a catch at deep square leg off the bowling of Omarzai. But two balls later, Short's attempted whip shot was dismissed with a leading edge, and he was caught at mid-on for 20.

Steve Smith added successive boundaries, whereas Head exploited poor deliveries by Farooqi and Omarzai to post his 17th ODI fifty in only 34 deliveries. Rain showed up in the 13th over, finally deciding the course of the game.

Brief Scores:
Afghanistan: 273 all out in 50 overs (Sediqullah Atal 85, Azmatullah Omarzai 67; Ben Dwarshuis 3-47, Adam Zampa 2-48)

Australia: 109/1 in 12.5 overs (Travis Head 59*; Azmatullah Omarzai 1-43)

Match abandoned because of rain.