Australia vs Afghanistan Live Score: Omarzai’s Blitz Propels AFG to 273 in ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Australia vs Afghanistan Live Score: Now down to how it really stands, being driven by the inspirational Travis Head, starting off on a blistering note for Australia, two-time holders of the Champions Trophy on a hunt to chase down 274 and into the semi-final rounds. Circumstances varied as catch-wicket was dropped on two consecutive balls and then on the third occasion Gulbadin Naib made the catch from Azmatullah Omarzai's bowling with minimal effort dismissing Matthew Short back to the hut.

In the first inning, Azmatullah's innings of 67 off 63 balls put scores on the board for Afghanistan around 273. Noor Ahmad got out on the last ball of the innings as Australia bowled the Afghans out. Most of the innings were dominated by Australia as they kept on taking wickets at regular intervals, however, Omarzai ensured Afghanistan made a fight back with a fighting little score.

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Earlier, Australia had firm control after quick wickets of the captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, and Gulbadin Naib from Afghanistani batting. Left-handed Sediqullah Atal missed out on a century as he walked back to the hut after scoring 85. An essential wicket for Australia was captured by Spencer Johnson.

Zadran and Sediqullah Atal had put Afghanistan in control earlier; however, after the introduction of Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell picked quick couple of wickets as Zadran and Rahmat Shah departed.

Spencer Johnson removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz on the first over of the match and threw Afghanistan back in a do-or-die encounter in Group B at the Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore on the very waking day. Before this, Afghanistan had won a toss and chose to bat first under obstructing conditions.

With two other games already called off in this edition of the Champions Trophy, another washout looms on the horizon with heavy rain pelting Lahore last night and this morning in the run-up to Australia vs Afghanistan. It's a must-win match for Afghanistan as Australia would qualify a point — but both teams hope for some time in the middle to try to qualify on their own merit.

It has been rather slow in picking up steam, but ICC Champions Trophy is burning with a hot flame as it returns after 8 years. No one likes to have a match washed out, which is what makes Australia's abandoned match against South Africa quite interesting in Group B. Following Afghanistan's historic victory over England in the next match, today's match became a very simply phrased equation: the team that wins goes forward; the team that loses is virtually out.

It is a straightforward ask for these two teams when it comes to the result. Win-at-all-costs is an attitude that lives passionately in this group of Australians, though it's a little hemorrhaged in fast bowlers by injury. They would have loved to have gone into South Africa, a world-class unit that probably would have challenged them more than England did, but the Aussies have a habit of coming good under pressure. For sure, they will be up for a fistfight.

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Nonetheless, the country's effort at this match will be as an outsider, but never that kind of label means less price their ability to play the game and the way they pose a threat-from over one through to 100. They come after an amazing victory over England in the last overs, which will become a phenomenon in cricket history for Afghanistan, that ship steeped phenomenal performances with both bat and ball leading them to victory. The ability to come up with such a match-winning performance in their inaugural Champions Trophy would signify how dangerous this team can be in the face of an elimination match.

While Ibrahim Zadran has played the innings of the tournament so far-177-run innings almost single-handedly backing Afghanistan's batting-the strength of this team, however, is very much in its bowling unit. Afghanistan can always keep competing with variety, talent, and a growing understanding of the game. It would want to have some exorcisms over the loss to Australia at the ODI World Cup, which came dramatically at the hands of Glenn Maxwell, who, through cramp and injury, recovered a win.

Afghanistan knows they can beat Australia at these big tournaments, given that match-the victory was there for them only to be snatched away by an innings of monumental proportions, and they will know that they didn't bowl close enough to well enough and let the match slip when they shouldn't have. This won't be the same mistake, though.

What Australia has is that really difficult pressure called "favourite," and while they scripted another famous chase by Josh Inglis and Alex Carey against England, they'd surely know that they are facing a somewhat less toothless team here. Batting looks pretty well full-strength, and has plenty of firepower of its own, but their bowling is the concerning factor. Enough, they might have, to sail through Afghanistan, but are much closer-matched with strengths and weaknesses than they would like to be.

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