Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai push Afghanistan to 273

Sediqullah Atal (85 off 95, 6 fours, 3 sixes) and Azmatullah Omarzai (67 off 63, 1 four, 5 sixes) led Afghanistan to a strong total of 273 in 50 overs against Australia.

Key Moments:

• Powerplay (first 10 overs):

  • Afghanistan reached 54/1, with Atal and Ibrahim Zadran laying a solid foundation.
  • Australia's seamers, led by Spencer Johnson and Ben Dwarshuis, caused early pressure with consistent seam movement.

• Middle Overs (11-30 overs):

  • Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell tightened the game with sharp spin bowling.
  • Afghanistan slumped to 94/3 after Zadran was dismissed by Zampa.
  • Atal and Hashmatullah Shahidi steadied the innings, taking Afghanistan past 150.

• Death Overs (31-50 overs):

  • Afghanistan lost momentum, slipping to 199/7 in the 40th over.
  • Omarzai and Rashid Khan revived the innings, adding 31 runs in 5 overs.
  • Omarzai's late flourish (67 off 63) pushed Afghanistan to 273, with 74 runs coming in the last 3 overs.

Bowling Highlights:

• Australia's Key Performances:
  • Ben Dwarshuis: 3/47
  • Adam Zampa: 2/48
  • Spencer Johnson: 2/49

Final Scorecard:

Afghanistan: 273/9 in 50 overs
Australia: 3/47, 2/48, 2/49

This total sets up a crucial contest as Afghanistan aim for a strong performance in their chase for semifinal qualification.