Champions Trophy 2025: Australia’s crucial clash with South Africa abandoned due to rain

Australia’s crucial Champions Trophy clash with South Africa has been abandoned due to constant rain at Rawalpindi, and it means both side face must-win games to progress to the next phase.

Australia and South Africa will share the points after their crucial Champions Trophy clash was abandoned due to rain.

Constant rain fell at Rawalpindi and with as much as two more hours of rain forecast to fall the decision was made to abandon the fixture about 11.15pm (AEDT) .

With one point each from this match, Australia and South Africa are both well placed for the semi-finals, having both won their opening fixtures in the tournament.

South Africa, who beat Afghanistan in their first match by 107 runs, are top of the table with three points and a net run-rate of 2.14. Australia are second on the same number of points and a net run-rate of 0.475.

.

Groundmen cover the pitch as it rains before the start of the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Australia and South Africa at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Picture: AFP

England face Afghanistan in Lahore on Wednesday in a must-win match for both teams after they lost their opening games.

Australia captain Steve Smith said the rain-out at least left his team knowing that a victory over Afghanistan on Friday would secure their place in the semi-finals.

“I did look at the Apple weather and it showed rain for the next few days but didn’t expect it to be a wash-out, you can’t do much about it,” said Smith.

“The equation is pretty simple now, on to the next one against Afghanistan and if we win we are locked into top four.”

Originally published as Champions Trophy 2025: Australia’s crucial clash with South Africa abandoned due to rain