Australia’s interim captain, Steve Smith, highly praised his disciplined bowling attack after the team clinched a semi-final spot in the ongoing Champions Trophy. This was confirmed following a match against Afghanistan that was abandoned due to rain on Friday. Australia was comfortably positioned at 109 for 1 in 12.5 overs, chasing a target of 274, when heavy rain waterlogged the field. After a two-hour delay, the game was called off, guaranteeing Australia’s qualification with four points.
During the post-match discussion, Smith told the broadcaster, “Our initial aim was to finish in the top two and qualify for the semi-finals. I believe the team performed admirably, made effective bowling changes, and consistently took wickets in the middle overs. We successfully restricted them to 270, placing us in a favorable position.”
Despite conceding 37 extra runs, including 17 wides, Smith supported his bowling unit.
“There were a few extras today, particularly from Spencer (Johnson), who was generating excessive swing. Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper) was relieved when that spell concluded. However, overall, the bowlers performed well and frequently beat the bat,” Smith commented.
“It was a commendable performance, it’s just unfortunate that the game was rained out.” Australian opening batsman Matthew Short sustained an injury while fielding but returned to bat. Smith mentioned that Short might need a few days to recover.
It is uncertain whether Short will be fit for the semi-finals scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. India and New Zealand have already qualified for the semi-finals from Group B. The final group standings and the complete semi-final lineup will be determined after Sunday’s group matches conclude.
“He is struggling somewhat, and a few days might not be sufficient for his recovery,” Smith added.
Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, expressed his belief that they could have achieved a score exceeding 300 runs. Afghanistan’s chances of progressing are slim, requiring England to defeat South Africa by a significant margin to have any hope of advancing.
“It’s unfortunate that the match concluded without a result. It was shaping up to be a good contest. I think we should have aimed for a score of over 300, but they bowled effectively in the middle overs,” Shahidi stated.
“While 273 was a decent score, we didn’t begin well with our bowling, offering them excessive width and numerous scoring opportunities. We will learn from this.” He also praised Sediqullah Atal for his anchoring innings and Azmatullah Omarzai for his explosive half-century.
“Atal played exceptionally well today; in the initial two matches, he didn’t perform as expected, but his comeback was strong. This is his first major ICC event, and he performed admirably under pressure.”
“Omarzai is a top-tier player, evidenced by his ODI Player of the Year award. He consistently delivers for us and plays a crucial role. He previously took a five-wicket haul against England, and today he again demonstrated positive intent under pressure,” he concluded.
