Afghanistan vs Australia Highlights, Champions Trophy 2025: Australia Enter Semi-Finals After Match Gets Washed Out

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: It’s a wrap!

Okay, guys. That is it from the Afghanistan vs Australia match! We hope you liked our coverage. Do join us for another crucial Champions Trophy match that takes place between South Africa and England tomorrow. Keep following NDTV Sports, goodbye.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: What about Afghanistan?

Afghanistan now have 3 points to their credit. South Africa, who also have equal number of points, have far better net run rate than that of Afghanistan that too with one match left to play. To make it to the semi-finals, Afghanistan need South Africa to suffer a huge loss in their last group match vs England. Here is the points table –

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: That’s it!

There is the inevitable, folks! The match gets abandoned due to rain. This was always coming given the amount of water left on the ground. Despite their best of efforts, the ground staff could not keep the umpires hopeful. This means that Australia enter semi-finals with 4 points.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Inspection underway!

Umpires are out for inspection and Kumar Dharmasena puts his right foot at one point and finds enough water there, that too inside the circle. The ground staff are still using sponges to clear the water. But again, the group still looks a lot wet.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: It looks bad!

The ground staff are giving their all, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done as there is a still too much water on the ground. The field is still shining with water on its surface. There is only one super sopper, so the draining process is taking time. The staff are even using sponges to dry out the water.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Next inspection at 9pm!

We have some good news. The ground staff are giving it their all and the next inspection will take place at 9:15 pm IST. We have around 31 minutes left for that from now. Let’s hope, we get another positive update after that.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Inspection underway!

The umpires are out there at the middle, inspecting the ground. There is still a lot of water is there. They are assessing the conditions but to be very honest, it looks all wet from the naked eye. the super soppers are in action. Let’s see how it goes.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Rain stops!

The rain has stopped at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done by the groundstaff to dry the surface. The covers are coming off slowly but it has rained heavily, leaving lot of water on the ground.

AFG vs AUS LIVE: A washout could be good news for South Africa

The Afghans have a Net Run Rate of -0.990. It would remain the same even as the team goes on to 3 points in the Group B. South Africa, with a Net Run Rate of +2.140, also have three points to their name. In case of a washout in the Afghanistan vs Australia match, the Proteas would practically be guaranteed a semi-final progression.

LIVE: What if Afghanistan vs Australia game gets washed out?

A washed out contest would see both Afghanistan and Australia fetch one point each. Such a situation would see Australia automatically qualify for the semi-finals as they would have 4 points to their name. Afghanistan, however, would only mathematically remain in the race. To make it to the semis, they would need England to beat South Africa by such a huge margin that the latter’s net run rate becomes less than Afghanistan’s.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Trouble for fans!

Given there is no overhead cover for the fans, plenty of them are going away from the stands. It continues to rain heavily and the fans might have to stay out of their seats for long.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Rain picks pace!

The rain has picked pace and now the one could see a lot of covers on the ground. It seems like this is going to be a long stoppage in play. Australia would not like it as they were cruising in the chase of 274.

AUS 109/1 (12.5)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Rain arrives!

It has started raining here in Lahore. The covers are coming on and the players are walking out.

AUS 109/1 (12.5)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Fifty for Travis Head!

10.4 – That is a 34-ball half-century for Travis Head. It has come really quick. He got a life earlier but never looked back since then. The southpaw didn’t let the Afghanistan bowlers rest and kept on attacking them relentlessly. He is still there and Afghanistan must be under pressure.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Australia on top!

This is a superb start from Australia. They have scored 90 runs at the loss of one wicket in the powerplay. Have a look at their wagonwheel – 

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Hat-trick of fours!

Travis Head is on fire! He has slammed hat-trick of fours to Azmatullah Omarzai. Rashid Khan must be under a lot of pressure for dropping the catch of the southpaw, who is now punishing Afghanistan really bad.

AUS 85/1 (8.4)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Poor bowling from Afghanistan!

Afghanistan bowlers failed to control their line and length and that saw Australia score some quick runs. The pacers bowled mostly short. Pitching a bit up may have helped their cause more.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Travis Head on fire!

Travis Head slammed three fours in the over of Fazalhaq Farooqi. He is batting at the score of 29 off 18 balls. Rashid Khan had dropped the catch of Head when the batter was at the score of 6, and now the missed chance is hurting Afghanistan big. Really big!

AUS 64/1 (6)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: OUT!

Afghanistan finally get the breakthrough after dropping two matches. Matthew Short departs for 20 off 15 balls. Gulbadin Naib took a really good catch at mid-on to put an end to the partnership between Short and Head.

AUS 44/1 (4.3)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Another catch dropped!

Another dropped catch from Afghanistan! This is poor, poorer, poorest from Afghanistan.

AUS 43/0 (4.1)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Massive blunder!

Oh, dear Rashid Khan! What have you done there? There was a chance for Afghanistan to strike early after Travis Head mistimed the ball towards Rashid at mid-on but the fielder made a mess out of the easy catch and dropped it. 

AUS 32/0 (3.1)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: FOUR! SIX! FOUR!

Matthew Short got an outside edge on the first ball of the over that flew through third man for four, but he connected the fourth ball from the middle of his bat. It was a cracking pull shot from the Australia opener for a six over deep mid-wicket. He then slammed a four off the final ball through the square leg to make it a 14-run over.

AUS 32/0 (3)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Expensive over!

14 runs came off Fazalhaq Farooqi’s first over. While a four went via bye, Travis Head hit a beautiful pull shot through mid-wicket for the second four of the over.

AUS 18/0 (2)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: FOUR!

Fazalhaq Farooqi errs in his line and that goes away for a four as bye. He hit Travis Head on his front foot with an inswinging delivery but the ball raced away to the fence after getting deflected off his pad. The player at long leg was wide and failed to stop it.

AUS 8/0 (1.2)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: FOUR!

Matthew Short hit a four to Azmatullah Omarzai on the fifth ball of the over to get off the mark.

AUS 4/0 (1)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: The chase begins!

Azmatullah Omarzai has the new ball in hand. Matthew Short is on strike, Travis Head is at the other end. Here we go…

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Players walk in!

We are all set for the chase. Australian openers walk into the ground and so are the Afghanistan players. It is a tough game for Afghanistan from this point, but a good start could really help their cause.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Here’s what Zampa said –

“Mixed bag today, was struggling to find my lengths but was able to create a couple of opportunities which were taken. Bowled a couple of overs after the powerplay, it held on a bit back then but when the ball got older, it came on better onto the bat. These guys love bowling stump-to-stump, especially Rash (Rashid Khan), we need to play straight. We are happy with that score, they put us under pressure before in the 2023 ODI WC and 2024 T20 World Cup, tonight we need to be cautious,” said Adam Zampa at the innings break.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Afghanistan are all out!

Ben Dwarshuis gets the wicket of Noor Ahmad and Afghanistan are all out for 273 runs. Afghanistan have something on the board to fight. This is the same ground where Australia chased down a target of over 350 vs England so Afghanistan need a really good bowling effort to make a game out of this.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: OUT!

That is the end of an entertaining knock from Azmatullah Omarzai. He hits it into the hands of the fielder in deep and departs for 67 off 63 balls. He has done his job of taking Afghanistan to a fighting total.

AFG 272/9 (49.4)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Fifty for Omarzai!

Azmatullah Omarzai races to his half-century in 54 balls. A terrific knock this is from Omarzai.

AFG 252/8 (47.5)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: Great gesture from Smith!

Steven Smith showed great game spirit at the end of the 47th over. As Noor Ahmad completed the run on the final ball of the over, he walked out of his crease without even wicketkeeper Josh Inglis collecting the ball. As Noor had walked out by the time the throw arrived at striker’s end, Inglis clipped off the bails to ask for a run-out. However, Australia captain Steve Smith told his players not to appeal for it.

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: 10 off the over!

Azmatullah Omarzai took a single on the final ball to retain strike. With that, he has moved to 48. A total of 10 runs came off the over for Afghanistan. Only three overs remain in their innings.

AFG 248/8 (47)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: SIX!

Wow! That is a stunning shot from Azmatullah Omarzai for a six down the ground. Nathan Ellis bowled a back of length delivery but Omarzai still fetched it to hit it straight like an arrow. A couple comes off the next ball and Omarzai is now on 47.

AFG 247/8 (46.3)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: OUT!

Rashid Khan is out! He hit the back of length ball in the air and Glenn Maxwell runs forward from long-on to take the catch. Rashid departs for 19 off 17 balls. Afghanistan are eight down now and they might even miss out playing the entire quota of 50 overs.  

AFG 235/8 (45.3)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: FOUR!

A short ball outside off stump from Ben Dwarshuis and Rashid Khan has slammed it away for a a four.

AFG 235/7 (45.2)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: FOUR!

A slower bouncer from Nathan Ellis and Rashid Khan jumped out of his crease to hit the ball, but got an edge there. To the batter’s good luck, the ball went for a four through the right side of wicketkeeper.

AFG 230/7 (45)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: 12-run over!

Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan are trying to bring Afghanistan back in the game with some quick boundaries. Seven overs left in the innings and Afghanistan will aim to get as close to 300 as possible.

AFG 217/7 (43)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: SIX!

Tha is a sensational six from Azmatullah Omarzai. He created room for hismelf by moving on the leg side and slammed the Glenn Maxwell delivery for a 98-metre six. This is good game awareness from Afghanistan. They know they need a big total to challenge Australia or this game will be nearly over in the first innings itself.

AFG 211/7 (42.1)

Afghanistan vs Australia LIVE: OUT!

Gulbadin Naib is out! He never looked comfortably during his short stay at the crease and now departs for 4 runs off 12 balls. A back of length ball from Nathan Ellis and Naib tried to play a pull shot but got a leading edge. Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis ran for the ball and comfortably completed the catch.

AFG 199/7 (40)