Afghanistan fans turned up in large numbers at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, hoping for their team to stun Australia and strengthen its chances of reaching the ICC Champions Trophy semifinals.
But a heavy downpour dashed their hopes as Australia was assured of a spot in the last-four stage after the game was washed out. Australia was cruising at 109 for one in 12.5 overs, chasing Afghanistan’s 273, when rain stopped play.
ALSO READ | Latest standings after Afghanistan vs Australia match on Friday
With points shared, Australia went up to four points, and if South Africa defeats England in its last group-stage fixture in Karachi on Saturday, it will top the group with five points.
However, a win for England will see Afghanistan and South Africa finish on three points each, and Net Run Rate will come into the picture. But with a NRR of -0.990, Afghanistan’s chances are bleak as South Africa has a better NRR (+2.140).
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi is still hoping against hope. “We still have hopes. Hopefully England wins big (against South Africa),” he said. For Afghanistan to qualify, England needs to win by a margin of over 207 runs for South Africa’s Net Run Rate to slip below that of Afghanistan.
With the sun coming out earlier in the day, the chances of having a full game brightened, and a sublime knock by Azmatullah Omarzai (67, 63b) guided Afghanistan to a fighting total against Australia.
ALSO READ | Smith withdraws run-out appeal despite Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad leaving crease early
Even though Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early after electing to bat, Sediqullah Atal (85, 95b, 6×4, 3×6) and Ibrahim Zadran rebuilt with a 67-run partnership before Zadran fell to Adam Zampa.
Even though wickets tumbled at the other end, Atal kept ticking along, but missed out on a century by 15 runs as he fell to Spencer Johnson. However, with Omarzai standing tall, Afghanistan put a competitive total on the board.
Australian openers Matthew Short and Travis Head made the most of early reprieves to add 44 runs for the opening wicket, before Omarzai cut short Short’s stay at the crease. Head ensured Australia did not lose the plot by taking the Afghan bowlers to the cleaners. The left-hander brought up a 34-ball 50 before rain played spoilsport.
THE SCORES
Afghanistan 273 in 50 overs (Sediq Attal 85, Azmatullah Omarzai 67; Ben Dwarshuis 3/47) vs Australia 109 for one in 12.5 overs (Travis Head 59).
Match abandoned due to rain.
