australia vs afghanistan

 Rain seals Australia's progress, leaves Afghanistan on the brink

After 12.5 overs of Australia's chase, Afghanistan's hopes of 50-over retribution against Australia in an ICC event were dashed by showers. Due to the game's cancellation, Australia is now one of the semifinalists, along with India and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, who have three points to their name, are almost out the door. Only an unlikely miracle in Saturday's match between South Africa and England can keep them in the tournament.

Travis Head raced away to a breezy fifty-five, putting Afghanistan on the ropes before the interventions from above. As Fazalhaq Farooqi struggled to control the swing he generated, he and fellow opener Matthew Short flew out of

 the gate, giving up 18 runs in his first over. Azmatullah Omarzai's next ball scored 14, and Farooqi's next ball scored 10 more runs, putting Australia at 42/0 in four overs in pursuit of Afghanistan's 273. Like they had done in that incredible fixture in 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan once again began to fluff their lines on the field as both the openers were dropped once each.

Short offered another chance in the same over that Gulbadin Naib latched onto at mid-on.  Steve Smith arrived and disdainfully sent his first two deliveries for fours - through cover and mid-wicket to bring up the team's fifty in just the fifth over to put his side well ahead of the eight-ball in the chase.  As he continued to punish Omarzai with three consecutive fours in the ninth over, Afghanistan continued to face the consequences of dropping Head. In ten overs, Australia reached 90/1, the tournament's highest PowerPlay total.

Afghanistan paid the price for also trying to go short in this period - conceding 48 off 21 such balls.  The showers arrived shortly after Australia reached 100 and ended the fixture. The venue was inspected by the umpires after more than an hour of waiting, and one

supersopper went around trying to dry out the outfield's numerous puddles of water. Soon after, the umpires decided that there could be no more play. Since Australia's innings did not hit the 20-over mark (109/1 in 12.5 overs), DLS method could not come in, leading to the abandonment of the fixture.

Before Afghanistan were hit with this disappointing conclusion, they showed the fight and bite that helped them down England just two nights ago to remain in the race for a semifinal spot.  Throughout their batting innings against Australia, they repeatedly showed their ability to go toe to toe with a stronger side and the strength to keep bouncing back from tricky situations.

Sediqullah Atal, Afghanistan's top scorer for the day with an 85 off 95 balls, led Afghanistan through the first ten overs with the impressive Ibrahim Zadran, but Australia successfully fought back with spin in the middle ten overs. In overs 11 to 20, Afghanistan lost Zadran, Rahmat Shah, and control, but Atal and Hashmatullah Shahidi picked up the pieces

 and put the game back together in the next ten overs. Atal's wicket in the 32nd over brought another period of instability as Afghanistan slid to 199/7 in the 40th over, but were once again found an able resurrector in Azmatullah Omarzai, who scored 67 off 63 to push the team to 273.  Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi had hoped the surface would get slower in the second half and suit his spinners but rain ensured the game never got that far.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan 273 in 50 overs (Sediqullah Atal 85, Azmatullah Omarzai 67; Ben Dwarshuis 3-47, Adam Zampa 2-48, Spencer Johnson 2-49) vs Australia 109/1 in 12.5 overs (Travis Head 59*).  Match Abandoned due to rain.