Key events
Steve Smith’s post-match reaction
I looked on Apple Weather and saw there might be a few days of rain, but I didn’t expect the game to be washed out. It’s not ideal but there’s not much that can be done about it.
[Who’s the most annoying player on a day like this?] Aw, Marnus, well and truly! He was walking round the room, trying to bug every single person!
You have to think on your feet and we were looking at a different team if it was a rain-reduced game.
The equation’s pretty simple now: if we beat Afghanistan we’re locked in the top four. They’re a dangerous side and we’ll have to be on our game.
We’ve been able to fit in a few rounds of golf to keep the boys up and about. It’s been really good so far – the rain today is not ideal but we’ll move onto the next one.
The updated Group B table
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South Africa P2 Pts3 NRR +2.140
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Australia P2 Pts3 NRR+0.475
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England P1 Pts0 NRR-0.475
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Afghanistan P1 Pts0 NRR-2.140
Match abandoned
Yep, I’m afraid so. The weather has been wretched all day and the umpires have decided that even a Twenty20 game won’t be possible.
It’s frustrating for both teams but it doesn’t necessarily change much – they were always likely to need to win their final group game. Australia play Afghanistan in Lahore on Friday. We’ll have live coverage of that, weather permitting, and also a crucial game between England and Afghanistan tomorrow. Until then, goodnight.
The clock is ticking. There are around 150 minutes to play with – a 20-over game would have to begin by 7.32pm local time – but the word from those on the ground is that the clean-up operation will take at least an hour and a half.
It feels like a matter of when, rather than if, this game is abandoned. If so, Australia will need to beat Afghanistan in Lahore on Friday to be sure of reaching the semi-finals. There is a way they could lose and still go through, but let’s cross that bridge if we come to it.
The forecast for Lahore on Friday is better, though not perfect.
Urgh, the rain is getting heavier. There are still over three hours to play for but even so, it’s not looking great.
On this day in 1993… Pakistan slip to 26 for 9 against West Indies.
The cut-off time for a 20-over-a-side match is 7.32pm local time/1.32am AEDT, so we still have a bit of time.
Still raining. If the match is washed out, which looks by far the likeliest scenario, each team will take a point.
On this day in 2025…
On this day in 1990… the most expensive over in cricket history was bowled.
“Just a heads up Rob…” begins Alistair Connor. “Check out weather.com , the rain’s only getting worse in Rawalpindi. Can’t see any sort of match happening. Or are you contractually or diplomatically obliged to avoid mentioning that?”
It’s more that I’m one of nature’s optimists you can’t always trust the weather apps.
(NB: clip contains a jet stream of adult language.)
At the moment we still have a full game, but we’ll start to lose overs at 3pm local time/9pm AEDT. It’s hard to see the match getting under way before then.
Still raining in Rawalpindi. It’s very light, frustratingly so, but the outfield is in good condition so the turnaround should be very quick if/when the rain stops.
Here’s something to read while we wait. The bogeyman is back.
The nature of the Champions Trophy – two groups of four, blink and you’ll miss it – makes it tricky to assess all the permutations. My instinct is that a washout today is a slightly better result for Australia than South Africa. What it would mean is that net run-rate is less likely to be a factor in who qualifies for the semi-finals.
Delayed start to match due to rain
The toss should be happening right about now. Should. It’s still raining so we’re going to have a delayed start, and possibly a very frustrating day.
The forecast isn’t great, in truth, so DLS may well be a factor in this game. Whoever wins the toss will surely bowl first.
Australia are without five of their World Cup-winning XI in this tournament. But their replacements – particularly Matt Short, Alex Carey and Nathan Ellis – were key to the win over England.
There is plenty of cloud and, most importantly, a bit of light rain about at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium at the moment. The covers are on but there is no word yet about the start being delayed. Stay tuned!
Preamble
Rob Smyth
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Australia v South Africa in Rawalpindi. No major tournament is complete without these two old rivals flexing their guns at each other. Australia have generally had the better of South Africa when it really matters, winning World Cup semi-finals in 1999, 2007 and 2023, but it does feel like South Africa are very close to leaving the ghosts of World Cup past behind.
South Africa have a formidable team and beat Afghanistan with the ease in their opening group game. Australia had to work harder to beat England, chasing 352 on the back of a stunning century from Josh Inglis.
Today’s winners won’t officially qualify for the semi-finals, but they become strong favourites to win the group – and potentially avoid India in the semis. The losers will be left needing to win their final game just to reach the last four.
The match starts at 8pm AEDT, 9am GMT.
