- Australia and Afghanistan match was rained out
- Resolution got here with the Aussies in full management
- In-form participant now unsure for semifinals
Matt Quick seems to be set to overlook Australia’s Champions Trophy semi-final in opposition to both India or New Zealand after his damage proved the one draw back to their rain-helped rush into the last-four in Pakistan.
Australia are by to the Champions Trophy semi-finals after rain pressured the abandonment of their crunch conflict with Afghanistan in Lahore.
Sediqullah Atal scored 85 off 95 balls and Azmatullah Omarzai (67 off 63 balls) added some essential late impetus as Afghanistan recovered from 7-199 to submit 273 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
In reply, Australia have been sitting fairly at 1-109 after 12.5 overs – with a rampant Travis Head (59no off 40 balls) and Steve Smith (19no off 22 balls) in full management – earlier than heavy rain hit Lahore.
Given Australia hadn’t but reached the 20-over mark of their innings, either side needed to accept a share of the spoils in a ‘no-result’.
That was excellent news for Australia, who at the moment are assured a spot within the semi-finals.
The Champions Trophy match between Australia and Afghanistan was deserted due to rain that lashed the stadium in Lahore
The Aussies will now play both India or New Zealand within the semifinals of the match
Nonetheless it has got here at a price, with in-form opener Quick struggling a quad damage within the area.
He hobbled his solution to a brisk 20 off 15 balls within the washout in opposition to Afghanistan in Lahore on Friday, captain Steve Smith mentioned he did not assume the Adelaide Strikers star could be match to play in subsequent week’s semis.
Smith informed Prime after Friday’s match, which Australia had dominated earlier than the downpour: ‘I feel he’ll be struggling.
‘I feel we noticed tonight he wasn’t transferring very effectively. I feel it is most likely going to be too fast between video games for him to get better.’
Australia will play their semi both in opposition to India in Dubai on Tuesday or in opposition to New Zealand on Wednesday in Lahore, however they will not know their opponents till Sunday evening.
Smith’s facet at the moment lead group B by a degree from South Africa, who can knock them all the way down to second with victory over England in Saturday’s remaining group match in Karachi.
There’s even an outlandish risk Afghanistan might nonetheless end second behind Australia and qualify, however provided that England hand the Proteas a thrashing that, statistically, seems to be wholly unlikely.
However no match-ups might be determined anyway till after Sunday’s group A shootout between favourites India and New Zealand in Dubai, with the victors of that one set to high the group and play the second-placed facet within the different pool.
The one blip on the outcome was a budget wicket of in-form opener Matt Quick who’s now unsure for the semifinal due to an damage he picked up within the conflict
Both means, Quick’s absence would necessitate a change on the high of the order, with Smith suggesting: ‘We have just a few guys there to return in to fill a job.’
Large-hitting Jake Fraser-McGurk is within the squad and will are available as a like-for-like alternative if it is felt he is not an excessive amount of of a danger after his two failures within the latest ODI collection in Sri Lanka.
The 29-year-old Quick had impressed within the opening match in opposition to England, setting the tone of their record-breaking chase with 63 off 66 balls, earlier than Josh Inglis and Alex Carey carried Australia to victory.
As his workforce chased down Afghanistan’s 273 on Friday and set out with actual intent to attempt to beat the rain on Friday, he additionally began effectively, making the most of a spilt catch as he smacked a six and three fours.
On the different finish Travis Head, who additionally received away with being dropped early, raced to an unbeaten 59 earlier than the rains got here at 1-109 with the Australians in cost.
