Rain gods intervened as the crucial Champions Trophy clash between Australia and Afghanistan has been halted due to downpour at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.
Batting first Afghanistan posted a 273-run target for Australia riding on Sediqullah Atal's 85 off 95. Australia got off to a robust start but just when they clocked the score of 109/1 it started raining, to an extent that the match had to be halted.
Meanwhile, the cut off time for a 20-over match is 10:11 PM local time (10:41 IST). Australia's 20-over target would be 123, for 30 overs it would be 191.
The possibility of a washout looms over the crucial match, significantly impacting the semifinal qualification scenarios. For Australia, a shared points result would guarantee their advancement, pushing them to four points. However, a washout also keeps Afghanistan's slim hopes alive, albeit precariously. Even if South Africa were to lose to England, their significantly superior net run-rate would likely prevent Afghanistan from progressing. Given the stakes, neither team desires a washout, and while there's still time before overs are lost, the formation of water patches on the outfield is a cause for concern.
To clarify the implications of a shared points outcome: Australia would secure their semifinal berth with four points. If South Africa defeats England, they'll top the group with five points. Conversely, an England victory would leave South Africa and Afghanistan tied on three points, necessitating a net run-rate (NRR) calculation. In this scenario, Afghanistan, with an NRR of -0.99, would almost certainly be eliminated. They would need South Africa to suffer a colossal defeat, by at least 207 runs while chasing 301, to surpass their NRR and secure second place.