LAHORE, Pakistan — Australia made a strong start in their ICC Champions Trophy group-stage match against Afghanistan, reaching 109 for 1 in 12.5 overs before rain halted play on Friday. Chasing a target of 274, Australia looked in control, with Travis Head (59 off 40 balls) leading the charge with an aggressive innings.
After Afghanistan posted 273 all out in 50 overs, Australia began their chase confidently. Matt Short (20 off 15 balls) provided a brisk start before falling to Azmatullah Omarzai, caught by Gulbadin Naib. However, Travis Head’s blistering knock, which included nine fours and a six, put Australia ahead of the required run rate. Steve Smith (19 off 22 balls) remained unbeaten when rain interrupted play.
Afghanistan’s bowlers struggled to contain Australia’s aggressive batting. Azmatullah Omarzai was the only bowler to take a wicket, dismissing Short early in the innings. With rain delaying play, Afghanistan will be hoping for a breakthrough once the match resumes to put pressure on Australia’s deep batting lineup.
With Australia needing 164 more runs from 37.1 overs, they remain in a strong position. The rain delay has put the game on hold, and win probability updates are pending. If rain continues, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method could come into play, potentially affecting the outcome.
As fans wait for the weather to clear, Australia will look to continue their dominance, while Afghanistan hopes for quick wickets to make a comeback once play resumes.
