Daily Times

Australia sailed into the Champions Trophy semi-finals after their final Group B match against Afghanistan was abandoned at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. Chasing 274 for victory against the plucky Afghans, Australia raced to 109-1 in the 13th over when heavy rain stopped play. While the pitch was kept under cover, the outfield appeared soaked, prompting the match officials to call off play. Australia advanced to the knockout stage with four points that include two abandoned matches. South Africa, who have three points and face an already-eliminated England on Saturday, look primed to join them in the semi-finals. Afghanistan, who have three points but a poor net run rate, are only mathematically alive in the race although they beat England in their impressive Champions Trophy debut. India and New Zealand have made the last four from Group A. Earlier, Afghanistan’s Sediqullah Atal struck 85 against Australia but it was Azmatullah Omarzai’s enterprising 67 down the order that powered them to 273 all out in exactly 50 overs. Australia began briskly in their chase, aided by Afghanistan’s poor catching. Rashid Khan dropped Travis Head, who was on six, and in the next over Matthew Short (20) was spilled in the deep. Short could not make the most of the reprieve and fell to Omarzai in the next over but dropping Head, who was batting on 59 when rain stopped play, proved costly for Afghanistan.