Australia secured their place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals after their crucial clash against Afghanistan was washed out due to rain at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Australia, who started their campaign with a stunning victory over arch-rivals England, finished with four points as their remaining two matches ended in no results.
The two-time champions, as a result, became the first team to qualify for the Final Four from Group B, while Afghanistan are not all but out of the tournament even if England beat South Africa on Saturday as the Asian side are well behind the Proteas in terms of net run rate.
When the rain intervened, Australia were 109/1 in 12.5 overs with Travis Head and skipper Steve Smith unbeaten on 59 and 19 respectively.
Batting first, Afghanistan were bowled out for 273 in 50 overs, courtesy of half-centuries from Omarzai and Sediqullah Atal.
Omarzai scored a crucial 67 off 63 runs with the help of one boundary and five sixes after Sediqullah Atal’s 85 had laid the foundation, helping Afghanistan recover from mid-innings setbacks.
