Australia Faces Uphill Task in Champions Trophy After Washout Against South Africa

Image credits: Anjum Naveed/AP

The Champions Trophy match between Australia and South Africa was abandoned due to perpetual rain in Rawalpindi, resulting in the two teams splitting the points. This outcome has significant implications for the tournament, as Australia now needs to win its upcoming match against Afghanistan to guarantee a semi-finals berth. The team's net run rate will also play a crucial role in determining its position in the standings. Australia has an unfortunate track record with rain in the Champions Trophy, having had two group-stage games called off due to weather in the previous edition of the tournament in 2017, which ultimately led to their failure to qualify for the knockouts.

The washout has also affected the standings in Group B, with South Africa currently leading the table with 3 points and a superior net run rate. Australia is second with 3 points, but its net run rate is significantly lower than that of South Africa. England, which lost to Australia in its previous match, still has a chance to qualify for the semi-finals if it can win its remaining matches against Afghanistan and South Africa. The team's batters will need to perform well in these matches to overcome the challenge posed by the opposing teams' bowlers.

The match between Australia and Afghanistan is scheduled to take place on Friday, and it will be a crucial encounter for both teams. Australia will be looking to win the match to guarantee its place in the semi-finals, while Afghanistan will be seeking to cause an upset and keep its own hopes of qualifying alive. The team's bowlers, including Nathan Ellis, will need to perform well to restrict Afghanistan's scoring and give their team a chance to win. The match will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, and it is expected to be a closely contested encounter.

Here are the current standings in Group B:

• South Africa — 3 points, NRR 2.140
• Australia — 3 points, NRR 0.475
• England — 0 points, NRR -0.475
• Afghanistan — 0 points, NRR -2.140

The upcoming matches in Group B are:

• Wednesday, February 26th – Afghanistan vs England, Lahore
• Friday, February 28th – Afghanistan vs Australia, Lahore
• Saturday, March 1st – South Africa vs England, Karachi

These matches will be crucial in determining the final standings in the group and which teams will qualify for the semi-finals.

Australia's chances of progressing in the tournament will depend on its ability to win its remaining matches and also on the results of other teams in the group. The team's bowling performance will be critical in these matches, as it will need to restrict the scoring of the opposing teams to give its batters a chance to win. With the tournament reaching its climax, Australia will need to be at its best to overcome the challenges posed by the other teams and qualify for the semi-finals.

africa south aus australia rawalpindi washout afghanistan trophy cricket weather