Hey everyone, let’s break down what happened in that dramatic match at Gaddafi Stadium! It was a real nail-biter, but unfortunately, the weather had the final say.
Australia was chasing a target of 274 against Afghanistan, and they were looking really comfortable at 109-1 in just 12.5 overs when the heavens opened up. That downpour meant the match had to be abandoned, and Australia walked away with four points from their three games.
Now, for Afghanistan, things are a little more complicated. They’ve got three points from two games, but their hopes of reaching the semi-finals are now relying on a big favor from England. Basically, they need England to beat South Africa by a significant margin in Karachi on Saturday. It’s all down to net run-rate, and right now, Afghanistan’s -0.99 isn’t as good as South Africa’s 2.14, even after their impressive win against England.
Let’s rewind a bit. Afghanistan’s innings was a rollercoaster. Sediqullah Atal played a fantastic knock, scoring 85, and Azmatullah Omarzai was brilliant with his 67. They battled hard to set a competitive total, especially after a shaky start where they lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz early on.
Atal and Ibrahim Zadran put on a good partnership, but then Australia’s bowlers, especially Ben Dwarshuis (who took 3-47) and Adam Zampa (2-48), fought back strongly. At 199-7, it looked like Afghanistan might collapse, but Omarzai’s powerful hitting, including five sixes, helped them reach 273. Rashid Khan also chipped in with a quick 19.
Then came Australia’s turn to bat. Travis Head was on fire, smashing 59 not out from just 40 balls, and Steve Smith was also looking solid. Matthew Short was the only wicket to fall, but Australia were clearly in control.
So, it’s a frustrating end for Afghanistan, who really needed a win. Now, they’ll be watching the England-South Africa match with everything crossed. It’s going to be a tense wait!
