The South Africa vs Australia Champions Trophy fixture has been delayed due to rain - what happens to Group B's points table and semi-final qualification scenarios if the match is called off?
The toss for the SA vs AUS Champions Trophy 2025 match has been delayed due to rain and the weather forecast for the rest of the afternoon and evening does not look bright.
Find the complete forecast in Rawalpindi for the South Africa-Australia match here.
Currently, South Africa are at the top of the Group B points table with two points and a net run rate of +2.140, followed by Australia at second with two points as well. England and Afghanistan are yet to get off the mark. In case today's match is abandoned, points will be shared between Australia and South Africa, both of whom will end up on three points from two games each.
Match 7, Australia vs South Africa
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Champions Trophy 2025 Group B points table if SA vs AUS is washed out
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | N/R | Tied | Points | NRR |
| South Africa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | +2.140 |
| Australia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | +0.475 |
| England | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.475 |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.140 |
Matches remaining in Group B:
Afghanistan vs England, Feb 26, Lahore
Afghanistan vs Australia, Feb 28, Lahore
England vs South Africa, Mar 1, Karachi
What does a washout mean for Group B's qualification scenarios?
Firstly, a washout would simplify scenarios for each team, contrary to the popular perception of it complicating things further. Each of the four teams – Australia, South Africa, England, and Afghanistan – would get their destinies back in their own hands.
If Afghanistan win their remaining two games – against England and Australia – they would go up to four points, a mark only South Africa would be able to reach, thus qualifying for the semi-final.
If England win their remaining two games – against Afghanistan and South Africa – they, like Afghanistan, would reach four points and qualify for the semis.
Similarly for Australia and South Africa, the equation would simplify to winning their last league game – against Afghanistan and England respectively – to guarantee qualification.
If the SA vs AUS does not get washed out and there is a winner, things can then get complicated with qualification coming down to net run rate calculations. Three of the four teams can then get tied on four points each.
Overall, out of the eight possible permutations of results (assuming the SA vs AUS game is washed out), Australia and South Africa would qualify in four of them without depending on net run rate.
All qualification scenarios from Group B if SA vs AUS is washed out
| Match winners | |||
| AFG vs ENG | AFG vs AUS | ENG vs SA | Qualifying teams |
| AFG | AFG | ENG | AFG, SA/AUS (NRR) |
| AFG | AFG | SA | AFG, SA |
| AFG | AUS | ENG | AUS, SA |
| AFG | AUS | SA | AUS, SA |
| ENG | AFG | ENG | ENG, AUS/SA (NRR) |
| ENG | AFG | SA | AUS, SA |
| ENG | AUS | ENG | ENG, AUS |
| ENG | AUS | SA | AUS, SA |
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