Australia qualify for Champions Trophy semis: Key stats
What's the story
Australia have qualified for the semis of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. Australia restricted the Afghans to 273/10 in 50 overs. During the run-chase, the Aussies racked up 109/1 in 12.5 overs before rain stopped play. With the outfield still water-logged, the umpires reckoned it is too damp for any cricket to resume. Aghanistan are still in the race for semis. Here's more.
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Australia qualify as Afghanistan and South Africa wait
Australia have qualified from Group B and will feature in the semis. With this result, the Aussies finished with 4 points. South Africa, who play England on Saturday, have three points. Afghanistan also own three points from three matches.
AFG innings
Afghanistan get to 273 in 50 overs
Despite a good start from Afghanistan's top order, they failed to convert their initial momentum into big scores. However, fifties from Sediqullah Atal (85) and Azmatullah Omarzai (67) took Afghanistan to a respectable total. For the Aussies, Ben Dwarshuis claimed his second consecutive three-wicket haul (3/47). Spencer Johnson claimed 2/49 from his 10 overs. Adam Zampa managed 2/28. Glenn Maxwell claimed 1/28.
Atal
Sediqullah Atal shines with 85 vs Australia
Atal, a rising star from Afghanistan, has been making waves in the cricket world with his impressive batting skills. He arrived at number three and brilliantly tackled the Aussie bowlers. He, however, missed out on his second ODI ton, having been dismissed for 85. Atal smoked six fours and three maximums en route to his 95-ball 85. He owns 335 ODI runs at 41.87.
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Atal registers this record
As per ESPNcricinfo, Atal's 85 is now the second-highest individual score by an Afghanistan batter against the Aussies in international cricket. He is only behind Ibrahim Zadran, who made 129* in the 2023 ODI World Cup match at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.
Knock
Atal recorded two 60-plus stands
Atal arrived in the very first over as opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz bagged a five-ball duck. The former's solid technique and composure was on display as he rebuilt the innings with a 67-run stand with Ibrahim Zadran (22). Atal was also involved in a 68-run partnership with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (20) which took the Afghan team past 150. Johnson eventually ended his stay.
Omarzai
Omarzai completes 1,000 ODI runs with 67 vs Australia
Omarzai completed 1,000 ODI runs. He became the joint-third fastest from his nation to accomplish the milestone. Omarzai reached the milestone with his 34th run. Omarzai's 63-ball 67 was laced with five maximums and a four. Playing his 39th ODI, Omarzai has raced to 1,033 runs at 46.95. The tally now includes eight fifties besides a ton.
Shahidi
Shahidi becomes Afghanistan's 4th-highest run-getter in ODIs
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi reached a major career milestone by becoming his nation's fourth-highest run-getter in ODI cricket. He achieved the feat with his 10th run. He was dismissed for 20 off 49 balls. Playing his 90th ODI, Shahidi has raced to 2,435 runs at 33.81. . He has a highest score of 97* in the format and has scored 22 half-centuries.
Ben
Australia's Ben Dwarshuis claims his second successive three-fer
Dwarshuis was brilliant in particular, claiming three wickets toward the end. Dwarshuis finished with 3/47 across nine overs. Dwarshuis, playing only his fourth ODI, now has eight wickets at 22.25. He made his ODI debut in September last year, against England in Nottingham. The pacer, who has raced to 41 List A wickets, claimed his second successive three-fer.
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185 scalps for Zampa in ODIs
Aussie spinner Zampa bowled 8 overs. He picked 2/48. He has now raced to 185 ODI scalps at 28.55. In 3 games versus Afghanistan, he now owns six scalps at 27.66.
Smi
Steve Smith shows gesture of sportsmanship versus Afghanistan
Aussie skipper Steve Smith withdrew a run-out appeal against Noor Ahmad. The incident occurred in the 47th over when wicketkeeper Josh Inglis dislodged the bails at the striker's end. Noor had stepped out of his crease before umpire Alex Wharf declared the ball dead, prompting Smith to retract the appeal in a gesture of sportsmanship.
Head
Travis Head gets to 7,500 runs in international cricket
Head completd 7,000 runs across all formats in international cricket. The southpaw headed into the game, requiring just 19 runs to get the mark. As per ESPNcricinfo, Head has raced past 7,500 runs across 199 innings of 166 international games (15 tons, 40 fifties). While 3,719 of his runs have come in Tests at 42.74, Head has accumulated 1,093 T20I runs at 33.12.
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Head shines for AUS
Head smashed an unbeaten fifty for Australia. When the match was stopped due to rain, he was unbeaten on 59 from 40 balls. He smashed nine 4s and a six. Head surpassed 2,700 runs in ODIs, slamming his 17th fifty (100s: 6).