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Australia‘s all-important clash against South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium was washed out after continuous rain made it impossible for the officials to continue with the fixture even with reduced overs. Even though both teams shared the points, the unpredicted turn of events has made the semi-final qualification battle in Group B interesting with no certainty for the 4 teams pooled together. In light of the abandoned match against South Africa here’s how Australia can qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Australia’s majestic display against England
The Australian team’s majestic display against arch-rivals England in their opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 impressed the cricketing world. The team had a mammoth total of 352 runs to chase which seemed effortless in front of a determined batting display from Australia. After early dismissals of Travis Head and skipper Steve Smith, opening batter Matthew Short and Marnus Labuschagne stabilized the Australian innings and provided the solid base team desperately needed.
Later on, an emphatic 120-run knock from Josh Inglis and notable contributions from Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell made it look too easy for the Aussies as they managed to put an end to the English resistance in the match with 15 balls to spare. The Australian team scripted history with the epic run-chase as they marked the highest ODI chase in ICC tournament history.
Also Read: Aussie legend Ricky Ponting names the greatest batter in ODI cricket
Qualification scenario for Australia in Champions Trophy 2025
After their second match against South Africa was abandoned due to rain, Australia now face a do-or-die situation in their final group-stage match against Afghanistan. A victory in this clash is crucial for the reigning world champions to secure their place in the semi-finals. However, even if they fall short against the Afghan side, Australia can still advance if South Africa defeats England in another thrilling Group B encounter. In a more dramatic scenario, if both Australia and South Africa lose their final group matches, England’s path to the semi-finals will be wide open, provided they win both of their remaining fixtures. The battle in Group B is shaping up to be a nail-biting, unpredictable contest, with multiple teams vying for a coveted spot in the next stage of the tournament.
