Okay, guys. That is it from the Afghanistan vs Australia match! We hope you liked our coverage. Do join us for another crucial Champions Trophy match that takes place between South Africa and England tomorrow (Saturday). Keep following NDTV Sports for more, goodbye.

Afghanistan now have 3 points to their credit. South Africa, who also have equal number of points, have far better net run rate than that of Afghanistan that too with one match left to play. To make it to the semi-finals, Afghanistan need South Africa to suffer a huge loss in their last group match vs England. Here is the points table -

There is the inevitable, folks! The match gets abandoned due to rain. This was always coming given the amount of water left on the ground. Despite their best of efforts, the ground staff could not keep the umpires hopeful. This means that Australia enter semi-finals with 4 points.

Umpires are out for inspection and Kumar Dharmasena puts his right foot at one point and finds enough water there, that too inside the circle. The ground staff are still using sponges to clear the water. But again, the group still looks a lot wet.

The ground staff are giving their all, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done as there is a still too much water on the ground. The field is still shining with water on its surface. There is only one super sopper, so the draining process is taking time. The staff are even using sponges to dry out the water.

We have some good news. The ground staff are giving it their all and the next inspection will take place at 9:15 pm IST. We have around 31 minutes left for that from now. Let's hope, we get another positive update after that.

The umpires are out there at the middle, inspecting the ground. There is still a lot of water is there. They are assessing the conditions but to be very honest, it looks all wet from the naked eye. the super soppers are in action. Let's see how it goes.

The rain has stopped at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done by the groundstaff to dry the surface. The covers are coming off slowly but it has rained heavily, leaving lot of water on the ground.

The Afghans have a Net Run Rate of -0.990. It would remain the same even as the team goes on to 3 points in the Group B. South Africa, with a Net Run Rate of +2.140, also have three points to their name. In case of a washout in the Afghanistan vs Australia match, the Proteas would practically be guaranteed a semi-final progression.

A washed out contest would see both Afghanistan and Australia fetch one point each. Such a situation would see Australia automatically qualify for the semi-finals as they would have 4 points to their name. Afghanistan, however, would only mathematically remain in the race. To make it to the semis, they would need England to beat South Africa by such a huge margin that the latter's net run rate becomes less than Afghanistan's.

Given there is no overhead cover for the fans, plenty of them are going away from the stands. It continues to rain heavily and the fans might have to stay out of their seats for long.

The rain has picked pace and now the one could see a lot of covers on the ground. It seems like this is going to be a long stoppage in play. Australia would not like it as they were cruising in the chase of 274.

It has started raining here in Lahore. The covers are coming on and the players are walking out.

AUS 109/1 (12.5)

10.4 - That is a 34-ball half-century for Travis Head. It has come really quick. He got a life earlier but never looked back since then. The southpaw didn't let the Afghanistan bowlers rest and kept on attacking them relentlessly. He is still there and Afghanistan must be under pressure.

This is a superb start from Australia. They have scored 90 runs at the loss of one wicket in the powerplay. Have a look at their wagonwheel - 

Travis Head is on fire! He has slammed hat-trick of fours to Azmatullah Omarzai. Rashid Khan must be under a lot of pressure for dropping the catch of the southpaw, who is now punishing Afghanistan really bad.

Afghanistan bowlers failed to control their line and length and that saw Australia score some quick runs. The pacers bowled mostly short. Pitching a bit up may have helped their cause more.

Travis Head slammed three fours in the over of Fazalhaq Farooqi. He is batting at the score of 29 off 18 balls. Rashid Khan had dropped the catch of Head when the batter was at the score of 6, and now the missed chance is hurting Afghanistan big. Really big!

Afghanistan finally get the breakthrough after dropping two matches. Matthew Short departs for 20 off 15 balls. Gulbadin Naib took a really good catch at mid-on to put an end to the partnership between Short and Head.

Another dropped catch from Afghanistan! This is poor, poorer, poorest from Afghanistan.

Oh, dear Rashid Khan! What have you done there? There was a chance for Afghanistan to strike early after Travis Head mistimed the ball towards Rashid at mid-on but the fielder made a mess out of the easy catch and dropped it. 

Matthew Short got an outside edge on the first ball of the over that flew through third man for four, but he connected the fourth ball from the middle of his bat. It was a cracking pull shot from the Australia opener for a six over deep mid-wicket. He then slammed a four off the final ball through the square leg to make it a 14-run over.

14 runs came off Fazalhaq Farooqi's first over. While a four went via bye, Travis Head hit a beautiful pull shot through mid-wicket for the second four of the over.

Fazalhaq Farooqi errs in his line and that goes away for a four as bye. He hit Travis Head on his front foot with an inswinging delivery but the ball raced away to the fence after getting deflected off his pad. The player at long leg was wide and failed to stop it.

Matthew Short hit a four to Azmatullah Omarzai on the fifth ball of the over to get off the mark.

Azmatullah Omarzai has the new ball in hand. Matthew Short is on strike, Travis Head is at the other end. Here we go...

We are all set for the chase. Australian openers walk into the ground and so are the Afghanistan players. It is a tough game for Afghanistan from this point, but a good start could really help their cause.

"Mixed bag today, was struggling to find my lengths but was able to create a couple of opportunities which were taken. Bowled a couple of overs after the powerplay, it held on a bit back then but when the ball got older, it came on better onto the bat. These guys love bowling stump-to-stump, especially Rash (Rashid Khan), we need to play straight. We are happy with that score, they put us under pressure before in the 2023 ODI WC and 2024 T20 World Cup, tonight we need to be cautious," said Adam Zampa at the innings break.

Ben Dwarshuis gets the wicket of Noor Ahmad and Afghanistan are all out for 273 runs. Afghanistan have something on the board to fight. This is the same ground where Australia chased down a target of over 350 vs England so Afghanistan need a really good bowling effort to make a game out of this.

That is the end of an entertaining knock from Azmatullah Omarzai. He hits it into the hands of the fielder in deep and departs for 67 off 63 balls. He has done his job of taking Afghanistan to a fighting total.

Azmatullah Omarzai races to his half-century in 54 balls. A terrific knock this is from Omarzai.

Steven Smith showed great game spirit at the end of the 47th over. As Noor Ahmad completed the run on the final ball of the over, he walked out of his crease without even wicketkeeper Josh Inglis collecting the ball. As Noor had walked out by the time the throw arrived at striker's end, Inglis clipped off the bails to ask for a run-out. However, Australia captain Steve Smith told his players not to appeal for it.

Azmatullah Omarzai took a single on the final ball to retain strike. With that, he has moved to 48. A total of 10 runs came off the over for Afghanistan. Only three overs remain in their innings.

Wow! That is a stunning shot from Azmatullah Omarzai for a six down the ground. Nathan Ellis bowled a back of length delivery but Omarzai still fetched it to hit it straight like an arrow. A couple comes off the next ball and Omarzai is now on 47.

AFG 247/8 (46.3)

Rashid Khan is out! He hit the back of length ball in the air and Glenn Maxwell runs forward from long-on to take the catch. Rashid departs for 19 off 17 balls. Afghanistan are eight down now and they might even miss out playing the entire quota of 50 overs.  

A short ball outside off stump from Ben Dwarshuis and Rashid Khan has slammed it away for a a four.

A slower bouncer from Nathan Ellis and Rashid Khan jumped out of his crease to hit the ball, but got an edge there. To the batter's good luck, the ball went for a four through the right side of wicketkeeper.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan are trying to bring Afghanistan back in the game with some quick boundaries. Seven overs left in the innings and Afghanistan will aim to get as close to 300 as possible.

Tha is a sensational six from Azmatullah Omarzai. He created room for hismelf by moving on the leg side and slammed the Glenn Maxwell delivery for a 98-metre six. This is good game awareness from Afghanistan. They know they need a big total to challenge Australia or this game will be nearly over in the first innings itself.

Gulbadin Naib is out! He never looked comfortably during his short stay at the crease and now departs for 4 runs off 12 balls. A back of length ball from Nathan Ellis and Naib tried to play a pull shot but got a leading edge. Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis ran for the ball and comfortably completed the catch.

AFG 199/7 (40)

37.1 - That is a bizarre review from Australia. A short of length ball from Nathan Ellis missed the outside edge of Azmatullah Omarzai's bat but wicketkeeper Josh Inglis made a huge appeal. So huge that captain Steven Smith had to go upstairs only to find out that there was a massive gap between the bat and the ball. The replay saw Ellis giving a big laugh to it.

Run-out! This is the last thing Afghanistan would have wanted at this stage. Spencer Johnson bowled a bouncer down the leg side and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis failed to collect it at the first attempt. Mohammad Nabi went forward for a single before being sent back. Johnson showed good presence of mind to reach to the stumps and collect the throw from Inglis before somehow getting it hitting the target. Nabi was well short of his crease. 

AFG 182/6 (36.4)

Hashmatullah Shahidi is gone and Afghanistan are five down now. Australia are right on top of this game. Adam Zampa gets his second wicket. Shahidi went across and wanted to hit it over the in-field but was caught out by backward square leg fielder. He departs for 20 off 49 balls.

31.2 - Spencer Johnson has got the wicket of set batter Sediqullah Atal and Afghanistan are under pressure now. Sediqullah hit the ball to Steven Smith at cover and fell for 85 off 96 balls. This is a massive blow for Afghanistan.

29.5 - Another error from Australia. There was clear-cut chance for a run-out. Just a throw at right end would have put curtains on Hashmatullah Shahidi's knock, but the fielder at covers made a blunder there. Shahidi hit the ball and ran for a single, but Sediqullah Atal was watching the ball. He decided not to take the run, but Shahidi was halfway down the pitch. Had the throw gone to the striker's end, Shahidi would have been out. But the throw went to the non-striker's end instead.

28.5 - A loud shout for LBW against Sediqullah Atal on the bowling of Nathan Ellis but umpire was not convinced. Australia decided not to review against it. It seemed that the ball might have pitched down the leg stump. Oh, no!!! The ball tracking shows that it would have pitched on the line of stumps and gone to hit the middle stump. That is a massive blunder from Australia.

Adam Zampa is back on the ground and he is welcomed by a six off the first ball on his return. That is a superb as well as courageous shot from Sediqullah Atal for a six. The mid-off was inside the ring and Sediqullah jumped out of his crease to play the shot.

10 runs came off the comeback over from Ben Dwarshuis. Sediqullah Atal slammed a four on the fifth ball of the over. Notably, Adam Zampa is out of the ground due to reported niggle. This is a serious concern for Australia.

A six towards the cow corner and Sediqullah Atal races to his half-century with it. He gets there in 64 balls. That is the southpaw's second ODI fifty. Afghanistan 108/3 in 22.1 overs vs Australia.

Sediqullah Atal takes a single on the bowling of Matthew Short and there is the 100-run mark for Afghanistan. They get there after losing three wickets but they could still make a game out ot this as Sediqullah is close to his fifty.

Another wicket for Australia through spin and they are right on top of this game at the moment. Glenn Maxwell has dismissed Rahmat Shah and Afghanistan are in all sorts of trouble after going three down.

Afghanistan's scoring rate has fallen to 4.71. The wicket of Zadran has made a massive difference as the side has added only 10 runs off 21 balls post that. Sediqullah Atal is close to his half-century and he will be the key for Afghanistan.  

Ibrahim Zadran is gone! Big wicket for Adam Zampa in his very first over. That is a massive blow for Afghanitan as they were looking really good through that partnership between Zadran and Sediqullah Atal, but this wicket has put Australia back in the game. 

Afghanistan have scored 39 runs in the last five overs. This is good scoring rate from the Afghans that too against the 2023 world champions. The partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal now grows to 60 runs.

This is much better from Atal! He tucks it away around the corner as Johnson gives him a freebie.

AFG: 48/1 (8.3)

Not the ideal control but it's enought to find the gap towards the point region. This will boost Zadran's confidence. 

AFG: 38/1 (7.2)

It was full and straight from Johnson and Sediq breaks the shackles. Driven through the covers! First boundary of the match from the bat

AFG: 30/1 (6.3)

Just falls short! The movement, again. Edge found but it lands just short of Matt Short at first slip. Sediq is racking the ball count. 6 off 23 for him so far

AFG: 24/1 (5.4)

It moving and Johnson has been a nightmare so far! It's important for Afghanistan to keep rotating the strike. They have had just 2 boundaries so far, both coming from byes

AFG: 21/1 (4.4)

Goneee!#SpencerJohnson sends #RahmanullahGurbaz packing with a brilliant yorker!
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Fired down the leg side and this beats Inglis by a mile. Surprising to see this movement. 5 byes more for Afghanistan.

AFG: 17/0 (2.4)

What a ball! Seemed that there was some connection but this has flown past the inside edge for 4 byes. A wicketkeeper's nightmare. Sediqullah is one lucky bloke

AFG: 12/1 (2.3)

Clean over from Dwarshuis! Plenty of swing on offer for the two Aussie quicks so far. Australia have to make most of the new ball as this track is only going to get better for batting.

AFG: 6/0 (2)

Johnson strikes with a Starc-like yorker! It was shaping in late and sneaked in, beating Gurbaz all ends up. Dream start for the Aussies

Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Johnson 0 (5) 

AFG: 3/1 (0.5)

Johnson to bowl the first ball to Gurbaz! Short, on the hip from over the wicket, deflected off the thigh guard behind square for a couple. 

AFG: 2/0 (0.1)

The national anthems are done! We are minutes away from the first ball of the match. Afghanistan need to capitalize on the absence of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Anything over 280 is a good total to defend for their quality bowling.

Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Australia: Travis Head, Matt Short, Steven Smith (capt), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

Afghanistan have opted to bat first! Australia wanted to bowl first so both teams happy. Both sides are unchanged as well.

Since there is no rain at the moment, toss is likely to go as planned. However, there is high cloud cover over the ground at the moment. A lot of rain yesterday but the outfield is good. A maximum of 19 degrees today so the conditons are very pleasant. The predicted rainfall is reducing by the minute with a 25 percent chance of rain and there's a nice wind blowing across the stadium.

Bowling was a concern for Australia in their matcha gainst England. They have Sean Abbott and Tanveer Sangha waiting on the sidelines. 

Despite Maxwell's carnage in the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi has said that his has chalked out plans for the entire Australian side and is not just focussed on one player. 

"You think we will come only to play with Maxwell? Do you think it will be like that? We have planned for entire Australian team, and I know that he (Maxwell) played really well in the 2023 World Cup, but that's part of the history," Shahidi said at the pre-match press conference on Thursday.

"After that, we beat them in T20 World Cup, and we think about all opposition team. We are not coming to the ground to plan on individual players. We will try our best to come with the planning, and we are not playing only Maxwell - we are playing Australia," Shahidi added.

As per ESPNcricinfo, "it rained overnight in Lahore. Luckily, it's dry now. It's fluctuating between an overcast and clear sky (sunny). The picture does not seem grim right now." Hopefully, we there won't be a washout today.

After Glenn Maxwell's rescue act for Australia at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Afghanistan finally had their moment at the last year's T20 World Cup, beating Australia comfortably. Can they make it two in two today?

For Afghanistan, this is more than just a game. Cricket Australia has refused to play Afghanistan in bilateral series, citing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in the country, particularly the treatment of girls and women by the Taliban.

Rain threat looms over this encounter as the weather forecast has predicted more than 70 per cent chance of rain in and around the Gaddafi Stadium. Stay tuned as we await an official confirmation of the current scene.

Hello and welcome! Today, all roads lead to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium as Afghanistan take on Australia, hoping to pull off another giant killing operation. Stay tuned for the latest updates as we await toss and team news.