Australia Advances in Group B Points Table
The Group B points table is now set, with Australia advancing to the semifinals and Afghanistan's chances of qualifying slim. The final match between South Africa and England will determine the top spot in the group, with the winner likely to finish first.
Australia has qualified for the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinals after their Group B match against Afghanistan was washed out in Lahore, with the team advancing to the semifinals with four points from three matches.
The match was halted by a downpour when Australia were 109 for 1 in 12.5 overs, chasing a target of 274. Afghanistan's chances of qualifying are slim, depending on the result of the South Africa-England match. The top spot in the group will be decided by win margins, with South Africa favored to finish first if they win their final match against England on Saturday.
Earlier, Azmatullah Omarzai's 67-run knock off 63 balls helped Afghanistan post 273 runs on the board. Australia dominated the bulk of the innings as they kept on taking wickets at regular intervals, but Omarzai ensured that Afghanistan posted a fighting total on the board. Travis Head got off to a flying start in the chase of 274, courtesy a 34-ball fifty, but rain played spoilsport and the game turned out to be a damp squib.
The outcome of the South Africa-England match will determine the final standings in Group B, with Australia already through to the semifinals. Afghanistan's hopes of qualifying are all but over, as they need South Africa to lose by 207 runs or more against England to go through on a better net run-rate.
