The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group B clash between Australia and South Africa was abandoned due to persistent rain in Rawalpindi on February 25, 2025. without a ball was bowled. Both teams earned a point each, moving to three points from two games, but the washout has thrown the semifinal race wide open, intensifying the stakes for remaining matches.
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| Image Credits: ESPN Cricinfo |
South Africa, with a superior net run rate (NRR) of +2.140 after thrashing Afghanistan, remain atop Group B, while Australia, with an NRR of +0.475 following their record chase against England, sit second. The split points mean both teams are well-placed but not guaranteed semifinal spots. Their final group games—Australia vs. Afghanistan on February 28 and South Africa vs. England on March 1—now carry knockout-level pressure. A win for either secures qualification, but a loss could see them overtaken.
The washout has turned England vs. Afghanistan on February 26 into a virtual eliminator. Both teams, pointless after opening defeats, must win to stay alive. The loser exits, while the winner needs another victory—England against South Africa or Afghanistan against Australia—to reach four points and challenge the top two. If either pulls off an upset, Group B could see a dramatic reshuffle, potentially decided by NRR.
This no-result has simplified England’s path—win both games, and they’re through—while complicating scenarios for Australia and South Africa. With Group A settled (India and New Zealand advancing), Group B’s unpredictability promises a thrilling conclusion. Every run and wicket now counts.
