Afghanistan are currently 201 for 7 in 41 overs. Australia seem to be taking back the control of the crucial match. Omarzai and Rashid Khan are rotating the strike.
Gulbadin’s dismissal
Gulbadin Naib goes for 4 in 12 balls after a struggling start. Before this, his catch was dropped. Rashid Khan has come to bat for his side.
Afghanistan are batting at 182 for 6 in 36.4 overs. Muhammad Nabi was run out as he could reach the crease before Johnson struck the wickets.
Zampa dismisses Hashmatullah Shahidi
Afghanistan’s captain was struggling from the start.
Afghanistan had gone 33 balls without hitting a boundary, but Omarzai ends the dry spell with a slog-swept six over midwicket in the 35th over. Despite that, it doesn’t significantly impact Short’s performance, as Australia has managed to extract seven overs from him for just 21 runs. That six from Omarzai was also the first boundary Short has conceded in the match.
Afghanistan’s troubles continue in the next over as Shahidi miscues a sweep off Zampa, sending the ball high to square leg for 20 off 49 balls. Shahidi attempted to go over short fine leg but ended up top-edging it squarely. Afghanistan is now 176 for 5 in the 36th over.
Afghanistan are currently 139 for 3 in 28 overs.
Fifty for Atal
It is his third fifty-plus score in eight ODI innings. Atal reaches the landmark in grand style with a six off Maxwell over mid-on, off 64 balls.
Two balls later, Shahidi almost runs past a slider from Maxwell, but ekes out an inside edge that nutmegs Inglis. With two lefties in the middle, Smith has paired Maxwell up with another offspinner in Short.
Maxwell dismisses Rahmat
Afghanistan stumbled to 91 for 3 in the 19th over after Maxwell had Rahmat caught behind for 12 off 21 balls. Rahmat had earlier struck a poor long-hop to the boundary, but Maxwell responded with a fuller delivery, getting the outside edge with a sharp angle from around the stumps. Afghanistan continues to struggle with Atal holding the fort. Meanwhile, Australia’s spinners are making the most of the worn pitch.
Afghanistan are currently 63 for 1 in 11 overs.
Extras keep piling up
Australian bowlers are leaking runs while trying to break Afghanistan’s partnership. So far, they have conceded 17 runs in extra.
No of extras conceded by Australia in the first seven overs are 15.
The new ball is hooping around corners.
The cordon is packed.
All the edges are under threat. This seems a passage of play straight out Test cricket.
But Johnson and Dwarshuis have not been able to control the swing and seam. Zadran and Atal battle for Afghanistan.
Afghanistan lost a quick wicket after it won the toss and decided to bat first.
Afghanistan and Australia are set to clash in a nail-biting showdown at Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore today (Friday), battling for glory in the 10th match of the ICC Champions Trophy, all while the skies threaten to unleash rain.
Spencer Johnson nails the yorker to clean up Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first over 🎯
Here’s how to watch #AFGvAUS LIVE wherever you are ➡ https://t.co/S0poKnxpTX pic.twitter.com/eEn5kGakmN
— ICC (@ICC) February 28, 2025
Afghanistan finds themselves in a must-win situation if they wish to continue their journey in the tournament. Meanwhile, for Australia, a loss would force them to look to other matches in the group for hope. However, even a washed-out game, granting them a single point, would propel Australia closer to the semi-finals.
When Afghanistan take on Australia, one unforgettable moment flashes back—Glenn Maxwell’s stunning double century during the 2023 ODI World Cup, a performance that crushed Afghan aspirations. The stakes are soaring once more, with a semi-final berth at stake. Afghanistan rides high on confidence after triumphing over England, securing two consecutive ICC ODI victories against them. Ibrahim Zadran’s explosive 177 stole the show last time, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz is poised for a breakout performance. With Rahmat Shah’s stability and Hashmatullah Shahidi’s resilience, Afghanistan’s lineup is formidable. Their weapon is spin, led by the masterful Rashid Khan. Meanwhile, Australia boasts a powerful batting lineup, featuring the explosive Travis Head and captain Steve Smith, alongside in-form Alex Carey and the ever-dangerous Maxwell, eager to inflict more damage.
Pitch and conditions
Both teams are now well acquainted with the conditions in Lahore, which has been considerably batting-friendly. While it’s been mostly tough going for pace bowlers, spinners have had an impact despite minimal turn off the surface. After the washout between Australia and South Africa, rain again threatens to spoil the party although the forecast is better from the late afternoon onwards. But with plenty of rain cascading on the ground in the lead-up, drainage could also be an issue.
Stats and trivia
Maxwell is 17 away from 4000 ODI runs. His strike rate of 126.68 is the best in ODI history (minimum of 500 balls faced).
Rashid is one wicket away from becoming the first Afghanistan bowler to claim 200 ODI wickets. His bowling average of 20.4 is the ninth-best in ODI history (minimum of 1000 balls).
Rahmat Shah needs 37 runs to become the first Afghanistan batter to reach 4000 ODI runs.
Australia have won all their four ODIs against Afghanistan.
Afghanistan are likely to go unchanged for the third straight game and back their spin strength in subcontinental conditions. The trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad will present considerable challenges for the Australians.
Afghanistan: 1 Ibrahim Zadran, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Gulbadin Naib, 9 Rashid Khan, 10 Noor Ahmad, 11 Fazalhaq Farooqi
🚨 TEAM NEWS! 🚨#AfghanAtalan are going with the same lineup for the Australia clash. 👍
Go well, Atalano! 🤩#ChampionsTrophy | #AFGvAUS | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/iFJvqFUKis
— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) February 28, 2025
For Australia, left-arm quick Spencer Johnson might be in the selection gun after he was overlooked for the death overs against England. But his pace and bounce could be a weapon against Afghanistan’s top order. Australia, who trained indoors on match eve, will also consider bowling allrounder Sean Abbott, who offers a point of difference and strengthens the batting, and legspinner Tanveer Sangha, given Marnus Labuschagne’s part-time legspin played a role against England.
Australia: 1 Matthew Short, 2 Travis Head, 3 Steven Smith (capt), 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Alex Carey, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Sean Abbott/Spencer Johnson, 9 Ben Dwarshuis, 10 Nathan Ellis, 11 Adam Zampa
