Lahore (Web Desk): Australia secured their place in the Champions Trophy semi-finals after their final Group B encounter with Afghanistan was called off due to heavy rain at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
The match, which saw Australia chasing 274 for victory, was halted with the team at 109-1 in the 13th over.
Despite the pitch being covered, the soaked outfield left officials with no choice but to abandon the game, ensuring that Australia advanced to the knockout stage with four points, including two from abandoned matches.
South Africa, who currently sit with three points, will face an already-eliminated England next, and they look set to join Australia in the semi-finals.
Afghanistan, also on three points, remain in the hunt, but their poor net run rate makes their path to the next stage mathematically unlikely. Afghanistan had earlier impressed in their Champions Trophy debut, defeating England.
Earlier in the day, Afghanistan posted 273 all out in their 50 overs. Sediqullah Atal top-scored with 85, while Azmatullah Omarzai’s brisk 67 down the order helped push the total to a competitive level.
Australia’s chase began in promising fashion, with Afghanistan's poor fielding providing the Aussies with early lifelines.
Rashid Khan dropped Travis Head when he was on six, and in the following over, Matthew Short (20) was spilled in the deep.
However, Short’s reprieve didn’t last long, as he fell to Omarzai soon after. The key moment, though, was the missed chance on Head, who was 59 not out when the rain interrupted play. Head had been in full flow, smashing a quickfire 50 off just 34 balls, and taking Australia past the 100-run mark in just 12 overs before the weather halted the action.
With their progression to the semi-finals assured, Australia will now await their next challenge, while South Africa still holds strong hopes of joining them.
Teams:
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), Matthew Short, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
