Steve Smith withdraws appeal to avoid repeat of Bairstow drama
Australia are through to the Champions Trophy semi-final, and the Aussies have Steve Smith to thank for avoiding some serious controversy.
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Australia are through to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy after their clash with Afghanistan on Friday night was abandoned due to rain.
Afghanistan batted first and posted 273 — Sediqullah Atal topscored with 85 and Azmatalluh Omarzai scored 67. Ben Dwarshuis was the best Australian bowler with 3/47. Adam Zampa took 2/48 and Spencer Johnson finished with 2/49.
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Left armer Johnson clean bowled opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz with a fearsome delivery reminiscent of Mitchell Starc, who isn’t playing in this tournament.
A moment of intrigue came late in Afghanistan’s innings when wicketkeeper Josh Inglis appealed for a run-out similar to the infamous Alex Carey-Jonny Bairstow incident in the 2023 Ashes.
On the final ball of the 47th over, Azmatullah Omarzai took a single to mid-on, keeping the strike for the next over.
Replays showed Inglis whipped the bails off at the striker’s end as Noor Ahmad completed the run and then left the crease to meet batting partner Omarzai in the middle of the pitch.
Watch Steve Smith withdraw Josh Inglis’ appeal in the video above
Inglis appealed but Australian captain Steve Smith decided against it, withdrawing the appeal before the umpires could even ask the third umpire to check.
The Australian fielders had already started to change ends as Inglis made the appeal.
According to Law 20.1.2, as per the Champions Trophy 2025 Playing Conditions, “The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.”
AAP’s Scott Bailey wrote on X: “Jonny Bairstow and Brendon McCullum wish to name Steve Smith as their Time Person of the Year.”
One fan joked on social media: “We save these types of dismissals for England or Finals only well done smudge.”
Another said: “Where have I seen this before? Seems like Australia only enforce this if it’s against England...”
Australia got off to a flyer in the run chase and were 1/109 after 12.5 overs when rain started pouring in Lahore and water pooled in the outfield at Gaddafi Stadium, forcing the match to be abandoned.
Matt Short (20 off 15 balls) and Travis Head (59 not out off 40 balls) set a blistering pace at the top of the order, while Smith was unbeaten on 19 when play was stopped.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan dropped a straightforward catch at mid on when Head was on six.
Head’s 34-ball half century included eight fours and a six.
Australia defeated England in their opening match and gained one point for each of the abandoned games against South Africa and Afghanistan.
The result means Australia is guaranteed a top two finish in Group B. South Africa will finish top of the Group if they beat England on Saturday night.
Afghanistan, who have three points from two games, need England to beat South Africa by a big margin in Karachi on Saturday to sneak into the last four on net run-rate.
In the semi-finals, Australia will play either India and New Zealand, who face off in the final game of the groups stages on Sunday.
It will be Australia’s first appearance in the Champions Trophy semi-finals since 2009, when they won the tournament.
“It’s a good result, and, that’s what we were after at the start of the tournament,” said Australia captain Smith.
“To finish in the top two and heading to the semis. It’s satisfying so far.” Smith said opener Short was an injury doubt for next week’s semi-final.
“I think he (Short) was struggling, wasn’t moving well. I think he’ll be struggling with the short gap between games,” said Smith of Short who suffered a thigh injury and will be assessed.
England won’t make the semi-finals following a dire campaign that has prompted Jos Buttler to step down as ODI captain. England have lost six ODIs in a row for the first time since 2009.
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