Afghanistan’s semifinal hopes were dimmed by a washed-out match against Australia, resulting in shared points. They currently sit second in Group B tied with South Africa, who have one remaining match. Afghanistan needs England to decisively defeat South Africa to retain a chance at qualifying, due to a significant disparity in Net Run Rate between them and South Africa.
Afghanistan’s semifinal aspirations in the Champions Trophy took a hit following a rain-induced washout against Australia on February 28 at Gaddafi Stadium. This match marked the third cancellation in the tournament and left Australia, who had been chasing a target of 274 runs, unable to complete their innings with a strong position of 109/1. As a result, each team earned one point from the no-result, with Australia advancing to the semifinals and now leading Group B with four points.
Afghanistan stands second in Group B with three points, sharing this total with South Africa. However, South Africa has the advantage of one remaining match. This upcoming bout against England is critical, as Afghanistan will need England to win to keep their semifinal hopes alive. The challenge lies in the fact that South Africa holds a significantly superior Net Run Rate (NRR) of +2.140 compared to Afghanistan’s NRR of -0.990.
To ensure a spot in the semifinals, England must win decisively against South Africa. If South Africa bats first, England would need to win by at least 207 runs to force a considerable drop in South Africa’s NRR, or alternatively, they must chase the target within 11.1 overs if aiming for 300 runs.
Achieving this scenario, although improbable, could allow Afghanistan to qualify alongside Australia from Group B, while a South African loss wouldn’t be enough for their elimination unless substantial NRR changes occur due to the match’s outcome.
Afghanistan’s hope for qualifying into the Champions Trophy semifinals hinges on an unlikely victory for England against South Africa. With both teams tied in points, the critical determinant will be the Net Run Rate, emphasizing the need for a significant win margin by England. Otherwise, even a loss from South Africa might not be sufficient for Afghanistan’s advancement due to the latter’s inferior NRR.
Original Source: www.indiatvnews.com
