Lahore, Feb 28 (UNI) A brilliant 67-run knock from Azmatullah Omarzai propelled Afghanistan to a competitive total of 273 in their 50 overs against Australia in a crucial Champions Trophy encounter here on Friday.
Opting to bat first, Afghanistan suffered an early setback as Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck in the very first over, undone by a searing inswinging yorker from Spencer Johnson. However, Sediq Attal (85 off 95, 6x4s 3x6s) and Ibrahim Zadran (22 off 28) stabilised the innings with a steady partnership before the latter fell to Adam Zampa in his first over.
Despite Attal’s resilience, Afghanistan lost momentum in the middle overs, with Mohammad Nabi (1 runout), Gulbadin Naib (4), and Rahmat Shah (12 off 21) departing cheaply. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (20 off 49) struggled to accelerate, which further slowed their scoring rate.
A late resurgence was led by Rashid Khan’s brisk 19 off 17 balls and Omarzai’s composed half-century.
Omarzai, who has been in sublime form since the start of the 2023 World Cup, once again demonstrated his prowess, staying deep in the crease and timing his shots to perfection. His innings ensured Afghanistan reached a respectable total on a surface offering minimal assistance to spinners but some early movement for the pacers.
Australia bowlers found significant swing and seam movement in the powerplay, with Ben Dwarshuis (3/47) registering the highest average swing in the tournament so far, while Johnson (2/49) generated the most seam movement. Despite this, their attack was erratic at times, conceding 37 extras – the third-highest in Champions Trophy history.
Statistically, Omarzai has been a standout performer in ODIs since the start of the 2023 World Cup, amassing 896 runs at an average of 56, striking at 102.16, with seven half-centuries and a century to his name. He has also hammered 41 sixes in this period, second only to Rohit Sharma’s 47.
With both teams facing a must-win scenario, Australia’s chase promises to be an intriguing contest given the conditions and Afghanistan’s varied bowling attack.
UNI BDN ARN