The Champions Trophy match between Australia and South Africa was canceled due to rain in Rawalpindi, with no play taking place. Both teams received one point, remaining in contention for the semi-finals after previous victories. Captains expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about future matches against Afghanistan and England, respectively.
The highly anticipated Champions Trophy match between Australia and South Africa at Rawalpindi Stadium was canceled due to persistent rain, with no play occurring. Rain began early, turning into a drizzle, and worsening conditions prevented the scheduled toss at 1:30 p.m. local time, leading the umpires to call off the game after failed attempts to clear water from the pitch covers.
A small crowd bearing South African and Australian flags waited in vain for the match to commence, ultimately forced to leave without witnessing any play. Both teams garnered one point from the abandoned match, maintaining strong positions for semi-final qualification, having each secured victories in their previous matches in the tournament.
South Africa currently leads Group B after defeating Afghanistan by 107 runs, accumulating three points and a net run-rate of 2.14. Australia sits in second place with three points and a net run-rate of 0.475. England is scheduled to face Afghanistan, both needing a win after earlier losses.
Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, commented on the unexpected weather, noting, “I did look at the Apple weather and it showed rain for the next few days but didn’t expect it to be a wash-out, you can’t do much about it.” He is optimistic, indicating that a win against Afghanistan would secure their place in the semi-finals.
South African skipper Temba Bavuma expressed disappointment over the rainout, stating, “Yeah, it’s frustrating, we wanted to have some cricket and so did the fans.” He also confirmed that batter Heinrich Klaasen is fit to play, enhancing the team’s lineup, while they wait to analyze England’s performance against Afghanistan before their match in Karachi.
The abandoned Australia versus South Africa match reflects the unpredictable nature of weather in cricket, leading to disappointment for fans and teams alike. Both sides maintain favorable standings for the semi-finals, with specific win conditions ahead. Captains express a focus on upcoming matches, underlining the importance of consistency in the tournament.
Original Source: www.france24.com
