AFG vs AUS highlights, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Match abandoned; Australia qualifies for semifinals
AFG vs AUS highlights, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Match abandoned; Australia qualifies for semifinals
Match has been abandoned officially. Australia qualifies for semifinals. Afghanistan is still on contention but only mathematically. South Africa needs to suffer a big defeat for Afghanistan to qualify.
Inspection to take place in a few minutes. Covers have been off for a while now.
Rain has stopped. Umpires are in the middle.
Some good news from Lahore. The ground staff is removing the covers, but there are quite a few puddles on the sheets. There are some wet patches also that are concerning. Fingers crossed for a result tonight.
If it’s a 20-over game, then Australia will need 123 runs to win; for a 30-over game, the target will be 191.
Highly unlikely we will have further play today, says Shayan from Lahore.
While Noor is completing his over, groundsmen are getting ready to cover the pitch since the rain is getting heavier now. Rain stops play.
Nabi bowls another good over to contain the scoring rate. Spinners have done well so far. 100-up for Australia.
Noor Ahmed into the attack. Fifty for Head off 34 balls! Another great innings. Six runs off that over.
Nabi. Head comes down the track and smashes the ball wide of long on and gets two. Four runs came in that final over of PowerPlay.
Omarzai continues. Head smacks the ball towards midwicket and gets a four. Another four, this time Head goes for a slash, gets a thick outside edge past keeper. Three consecutive fours! On the hips and Head pulls it towards fine leg.
Mohammad Nabi into the attack. Head pushes the ball towards long on and takes two. Six runs in that over.
Omarzai. A much better over so far. A slower ball beats Head. Just three singles in that over.
Farooqi. Four! Head gets another short ball and pulls it towards square leg. Full outside off and Head smacks it over mid off for another four. Short ball targeted towards his head, and Head upper cuts it over keeper for four.
Omarzai. Short is dropped as well! Pulled toward deep square leg but the fielder in the deep drops the ball. Afghanistan has dropped both openers inside 25 balls. OUT!! This time Short has been caught at mid on. Tried to pick the ball over the fielder but doesn’t find enough power. Short falls after scoring 20 off 15 balls.
Steve Smith in at three. He’s off the mark with first ball with a backfoot punch towards cover for four. Another four! This time flicks towards square leg.
Farooqi. DROPPED! Rashid Khan has dropped Travis Head. Half-tracker, Head looked to pull it over mid on, Rashid ran to his side but couldn’t hold on to it. Off the very next ball, Head picks a leg stump delivery over square leg for a SIX! Another four! Half-tracker, Head pull behind square leg. A better could have stopped it though.
Omarzai. Short begins the over with a four – a thickish outside edge towards deep third. SIX! Half-tracker pulled away over midwicket. Another four, full on the pads and flicked away towards square leg.
Fazalhaq Farooqi from the other end. A terrific inswinger completely beats Head, and he’s hit on his pads. Afghanistan appeals but umpire says not out. They don’t review. Another inswinger but this time drifting down the leg, four leg byes. Now an outswinger, but too wide outside off. Outswinger, this time Head punches past point for a double. Another down the leg wide. Inswinger to Short, inside edge towards fine leg for a single. Short outside off and Head pulls it towards midwicket for four.
Azmatullah Omarzai with the new ball. Matthew Short on strike. Australia’s chase begins with a four towards fine leg. Short just had to glance off his hips.
Another valiant effort by Afghanistan with the bat has propelled it to a respectable 273. Sediqullah Atal’s 95-ball 85 and Azmatullah Omarzai’s 63-ball 67 were instrumental in helping the Afghans fight back. Rashid Khan’s cameo was also vital towards the end. Though Australia is still favourite to win this, Afghanistan has definitely given itself, and its spin trio, something to fight for.
Dwarshuis to bowl the final over. Dot ball to start with as Azmatullah doesn’t want to take the single. FOUR! Thundered down the ground by Azmatullah for a one-bounce four. Smashed to deep midwicket and Azmatullah prefers not to run again. OUT! Caught at deep cover and Azmatullah brilliant knock finally comes to an end.
Fazalhaq Farooqi the last man in. He swings and misses outside off, but steals a bye. Noor to face the final ball. He misses the pull, caught behind appeal, and another bye taken. Australia takes the review to check whether there was any bat on it. It looks like Noor got a top edge on that and given OUT!
Azmatullah Omarzai c Alex Carey b Ben Dwarshuis 67 (63b 1×4 5×6)
Noor Ahmad c Josh Inglis b Ben Dwarshuis 6 (8b)
Ellis bowls out. Noor takes a single first ball. SIX! Azmatullah takes this from outside off-stump and launches the ball over deep midwicket for a colossal six. A couple of dot balls to follow – a slower one and then a yorker from Ellis. SIX! Slow and shortish outside off, and Azmatullah throws his hands at it and clears wide long-off for another maximum. A single to end the over and Azmatullah will keep strike.
Dwarshuis starts off with a wide outside off-stump. 250 up for Afghanistan with a single off the second ball of the over. Dwarshuis now comes around the wicket. Sliced over extra-cover by Noor for a single.
Fifty up for Azmatullah, off just 54 balls, and this has been an excellent knock so far. A wide and a single to end the over, and six runs from the 48th.
Ellis bowls his ninth. Single first ball for Noor. SIX! Shot! An incredible hit down the ground by Azmatullah. It was a length ball on middle stump and thumped for a straight six. That was 103 metres! Launched over extra cover next ball by Azmatullah, and the ball falls safely in the deep for a couple more. A couple of slower deliveries in a row and Azmatullah can’t put them away, resulting in two crucial dot balls. A single at deep midwicket for Azmatullah to end the over.
FOUR! Carved behind point by Rashid to the boundary first ball as Dwarshuis continues. OUT! And Rashid is gone next ball. Short again, Rashid looked to heave this down the ground but he gets a top edge on it and Maxwell settles under this skier at long-on. Noor Ahmad is the next man in.
Rashid Khan c Glenn Maxwell b Ben Dwarshuis 19 (17b 2×4)
Ellis returns with the ball. A couple of dot balls to start the over. Pulled away to deep midwicket by Azmatullah and brilliant stop in the deep by Maxwell to keep it down to a couple. FOUR! Short, Rashid steps out to flat-bat this on the off-side but the ball runs away to the third-man boundary off the toe end of the bat.
Dwarshuis with the ball. Four runs off the first three balls. Misfield at point and a couple more for Rashid off the fourth ball of the over. He looks to guide this angled delivery to third man with soft hands, but misses. Beaten outside off again off the last ball.
SIX! Massive maximum for Azmatullah. He backs away outside leg-stump and slog sweeps this over midwicket for half a dozen. A couple of twos for Rashid, who first steps out to clear the infield on the off-side and then sweeps one to deep square-leg. Twelve runs from the over and Afghanistan won’t mind that.
Ellis continues. Excellent stuff from Ellis, as just four singles come from the over.
Zampa comes back. 200 up for Afghanistan in 40.3 overs as Azmatullah takes a single. Rashid off the mark with a single through square-leg as he flicks the ball off the back foot.
Ellis continues. Short ball, pulled by Naib, and Short throws himself at midwicket to hold on to what would have been a stunning catch, but the ball just slips out of his grip. OUT! Naib goes. He was looking to clear the leg-side boundary, but ended up skying this very high in the air and Inglis does well to settle under it.
Johnson again. Over the wicket to Naib. FOUR! Short, good bouncer, but Naib gets a top edge on the pull and the ball runs away to the boundary behind the keeper. That seems to have gone off the helmet, so given four leg-byes.
Azmatullah slashes hard outside off as Johnson angles the ball away, and the batter gets a thick outside edge to deep third for a single.
Ellis with the ball. Loud appeal for caught behind but the umpire doesn’t move. Smith reviews and there is daylight between bat and ball as Azmatullah can’t connect. Guided behind point by Azmatullah for a couple to end the over.
Johnson again. Full outside off and driven through extra-cover by Azmatullah for a couple. OUT! Nabi is caught outside his crease the striker’s end and that’s an unfortunate dismissal. That was a short ball down leg-side, which the keeper couldn’t collect cleanly. He throws the ball at the stumps, however, and Johnson shows good presence of mind to back up and break the stumps.
FOUR LEG-BYES! Gulbadin Naib comes in. Johnson strays on leg-stump, and goes off the pads to the boundary at fine-leg.
Mohammad Nabi run out (Josh Inglis/Spencer Johnson) 1 (1b)
Zampa is back. A lot of width outside off and cut away for a single by Azmatullah to deep cover. OUT! Hashmatullah is gone. Slightly short, Hashmatullah pulls and the ball loops up in the air off a top edge, and catch taken at square-leg.
Mohammad Nabi now in the middle. Nabi is off the mark with a single at long-off.
Hashmatullah Shahidi c Marnus Labuschagne b Adam Zampa 20 (49b 1×4)
Short into his seventh over. SIX! Azmatullah decides to get a move on. He goes for the slog-sweep and clears midwicket with ease.
Johnson continues. Just three singles and leg-bye from the over. Hashmatullah drags his score to 19 off 46 balls by the end of the over.
Short continues. He beats Azmatullah a couple of times outside off. Just a single from the over and Short completes his sixth over, having just conceded 12 runs.
Johnson comes back, replacing Zampa. OUT! The bowling change makes the difference. Driven straight to the cover fielder by Atal, and Smith holds on to a low catch.
Azmatullah Omarzai is the next man in. He is off the mark with a single at deep fine. One more at point for Hashmat to end the over.
Sediqullah Atal c Steve Smith b Spencer Johnson 85 (95b 6×4 3×6)
Short replaces Ellis. Just three singles from the over again. Pressure building on Hashmat, while Atal nears a brilliant ton.
SIX! Hammered over long-on by Atal for a maximum as Zampa continues. That’s 150 up in 29.1 overs. Run out chance! Hashmat is sent back from halfway down the pitch by Atal after the captain chops the ball to mid-off. There is some disagreement between the batters but the captain survives. A couple at deep cover for Hashmat to end the over.
Ellis continues. Two dots in a row for Hashmatullah and the pressure is building on the skipper now. 11 runs off 33 balls for him. Ellis comes around the wicket. Banged in short and swatted away by Hashmatullah to deep point for a single. FOUR! A bit of width and driven square of the wicket by Atal for a boundary. That’s 50 runs for the partnership off 64 balls.
Loud appeal for lbw, Ellis is convinced it is gone, but not given by the umpire and Smith won’t review either. A single to end the over as Atal keeps strike.
SIX! Zampa is greeted back into the attack with a maximum by Atal. He steps out, doesn’t really middle it but the ball still just sails over the boundary at long-off. A single for Hashmatulla at cover, where Short misfields but doesn’t allow a second.
Nathan Ellis comes back. Keeps hitting the deck hard, and just two singles from the over.
Short continues. Just three singles from the over.
Dwarshuis is back. Atal continues to find boundaries. Pulls the ball straight to midwicket for four. 10 runs came in that over.
Maxwell. SIX! Atal comes down the track and goes over long on. That’s fifty for him as well. Shahidi too comes down the track and gets an inside edge past keeper for a lucky four.
100-up for Afghanistan. Short and Maxwell haven’t been that accurate, so the runs are coming now.
Matthew Short into the attack. Just a single came in that over.
Maxwell. Short ball and Rahmat pulls it towards midwicket for four. OUT! Rahmat is gone. Outside edge straight to keeper. Sharp catch.
Hashmatullah Shahidi at the crease. Six runs off the over.
Alat has been working the ball around the ground but the boundaries have dried up. An interesting phase of play this after the introduction of spinners. A full toss by Zampa and Alat hits it over mid off for four.
Spinners have once again controlled the scoring rate ever since they have come into the attack. Four runs in the last 12 balls.
Adam Zampa into the attack. OUT! Zadran is gone. Wide ball outside off, Zadran chases it but cuts it straight to backward point. He falls for 22.
Rahmat Shah is off the mark with a single.
Glenn Maxwell into the attack. He’s getting the ball turn. Seven runs have come in the last 12 balls.
Johnson continues. On the pads and Atal tucks it away towards fine leg for four! Afghanistan’s scoring rate has been pretty good and the singles are coming regularly as well.
Change in bowling, Nathan Ellis into the attack. Starts with a down the leg wide. Lose delivery, half-tracker outside off and Zadran punishes it towards cover for four.
Johnson. Atal continues to look for boundaries. Four! On the pads and Atal tickles it away fine. Seven runs came in that over.
Dwarshuis. Now Zadran gets his first boundary as he drives towards cover point, opening the face of the bat. Now Atal drives past point and gets two runs more.
Johnson. Finally, Atal connects the ball well and drives the ball through the cover for four! A very good looking shot. Another push to the cover region and he gets three more runs. Nine runs from the over.
Dwarshuis. Atal has been trying really hard to counter-attack but the swing has made it difficult for him to score. He gets an outside edge but falls just short of the first slip!
Johnson has been exceptionally well. Bowling at good pace, getting good carry and the pitch has assisted him well. Three singles came in that over.
Dwarshuis. Taking the ball away from the left hander. Atal picks the ball towards square leg and gets a double. Just two runs came in that over.
Spencer Johnson. A jaffa off the first ball, the ball went just over the middle stump, beating Ibrahim Zadran’s outside edge. Four byes! Ball goes past Atal’s inside edge and the late swing beats the keeper as well. Too wide outside leg and five wides now for Afghanistan! 12 came in that over.
Ben Dwarshuis from the other end. Lateral movement in the air has troubled the batters so far. Atal is off the mark with a double, thanks to a misfield by the cover fielder.
Johnson to Gurbaz, leg byes towards behind square leg and calls for a double. He had to run really hard to get back on time. All this off the first ball itself. Johnson bowling it too wide. Pitch has a good carry. OUT! The ball came into his late, yorker, and Gurbaz is cleaned up.
Sediqullah Atal is the new man in.
Don with national anthems. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran open the innings. Spencer Johnson with the new ball.
Hasmatullah Shahidi: We will bat first because the wicket looks good. It is a used pitch – England and Australia already played on this pitch, so it will slow down in the second half and hopefully, our spinners will come into play. We were happy with the performance in our last game. We also have made plans against Australia and hopefully, we can rectify the mistakes we made against England. We are going with the same team.
Steven Smith: We would have bowled first. Uncertain overhead conditions and there’s the dew factor as well. All the guys are doing good. It should be a good contest and [we are] looking forward to it. Coming here with good intent and aggression and ready to get started. Same team for us.
Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Both captains are in the middle – Hashmatullah Shahidi and Steve Smith.
Afghanistan wins the toss and elects to bat.
There was a lot of rain yesterday but the outfield is fine today. The square boundaries are 73m and 64m, while the straight boundary is also around 70m. Matthew Hayden thinks this is a 300-plus pitch, so expect a lot of runs.
AUS Predicted XI: Travis Head, Matthew Short, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis (wk), Nathan Ellis, Sean Abott, Adam Zampa, Ben Dwarshuis.
AFG Predicted XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad.
Matches Played: 4
Australia won: 4
Afghanistan won: 0
Last result: AUS won by 3 wickets (Mumbai; 2023)
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Farid Malik, Naveed Zadran.
Australia: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Adam Zampa.
The ICC Champions Trophy match between Afghanistan and Australia will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network and Sports18 Network. The match will also be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website. Moreover, you can stay tuned to Sportstar’s website and app for all the updates from the match.
