Afghanistan wins toss and elects to bat against Australia in must-win Champions Trophy game
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the coin toss under overcast conditions and elected to bat in Afghanistan's must-win last Group B game of the Champions Trophy against Australia on Friday.
Afghanistan made a big turnaround in the tournament when it eliminated England with a stunning eight-run victory at the same venue on Wednesday.
Afghanistan, which lost the first match to South Africa by 107 runs, went with the same playing XI for the third successive game and banked on three spinners — Mohammad Nabi, Noor Ahmad and ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan.
Australia has three points from its record-breaking 352-run chase against England and a point from its washout game against South Africa at Rawalpindi.
Australia named an unchanged side.
New Zealand and India have already qualified for the semifinals from Group A with host Pakistan and Bangladesh eliminated.
___
Lineups:
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
___
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
36 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Gipson-Long pitches effectively and Torkelson homers as the Tigers beat the Orioles 5-3
BALTIMORE (AP) — Spencer Torkelson homered and Sawyer Gipson-Long pitched effectively out of the bullpen to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Tuesday night. Zach McKinstry hit two triples for the Tigers, who have won 11 of 15 and own the best record in the majors at 44-24. Detroit is 4-0 against the Orioles this season, outscoring them 22-9. Making his second start of the season as an opener for the Tigers, Brant Hurter allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings. Chase Lee (3-0) got the last out in the third, and Gipson-Long entered in the fourth after Javier Báez hit an RBI single in the top half for a 2-1 lead. Making his second appearance of the year after missing the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John and hip surgeries, Gipson-Long gave up one run and three hits with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Gipson-Long began the 2024 season on the IL with a groin strain. After just one rehab start, he underwent elbow surgery that April, followed by left hip surgery in July. The 27-year-old right-hander finally returned to the big leagues last week, but did not get a decision against the White Sox. Detroit scored five runs off Cade Povich (1-5) in the first five innings. The big blow was Torkelson's 16th homer, a drive to center with a man on that made it 5-1 in the fifth. Key moment Povich retired the first two batters in the fifth before Riley Greene doubled, Dillon Dingler hit an RBI single and Torkelson went deep, Key stat Detroit is 16-2 in its last 18 games against the AL East, its best mark since an 18-2 run against that division in 1973. The series continues Wednesday night with Detroit RHP Casey Mize (6-1, 2.91 ERA) — who is 4-0 in seven starts since April 13 — going up against RHP Zach Eflin (5-2, 4.47 ERA). ___
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Shohei Ohtani moves closer to his Dodgers mound debut, throwing 3 simulated innings in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is moving ever closer to his first pitching appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In fact, there's now a chance his fans might not even have to wait until the All-Star break. Ohtani looked sharp while throwing three simulated innings on Tuesday at Petco Park before the Dodgers faced the San Diego Padres, manager Dave Roberts said. The outing was another significant step in Ohtani's recovery from the elbow surgery that has prevented the two-way superstar from pitching since he signed with the Dodgers before last season. Ohtani threw just under 50 pitches to two minor league hitters during the third simulated game in his gradual comeback to the mound . The three-time MVP used his fastball and sweeper impressively, according to Roberts and Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. 'I thought he was really good,' Roberts said. 'I thought the fastball had life. I thought the sweeper was really good. ... (The hitters) said the stuff was coming out really well. It was about 44 pitches or something like that, so it was really good.' The Dodgers have been cagey about the timeline for Ohtani's return to the mound, with Roberts suggesting in recent weeks that it might not happen until after the All-Star break. But after Ohtani's latest mound outing, Roberts now says the chance of Ohtani pitching in a game before the All-Star break begins July 14 is 'north of zero.' 'It doesn't have to be a full buildup, because anything that he can give us is certainly going to be additive,' Roberts added. 'But I still stand by him and Dr. (Neal) ElAttrache, the training staff. They're going to drive this. So I'm just anxious for the next one.' Ohtani hasn't pitched in a major league game since Aug. 23, 2023, when he abruptly left in the second inning of his final start for the Los Angeles Angels. He was eventually diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament that required surgery. Ohtani has demonstrated elite pitching ability when healthy: He went 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP while starting 86 games over five seasons for the Angels. He didn't pitch at all in 2019 and made just two starts in 2020 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Ohtani has remained steadfastly committed to playing both ways despite his hitting prowess, and the Dodgers could really use him on the mound this season. Los Angeles has 14 pitchers on the injured list, including expected starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin and Gavin Stone. Still, the Dodgers say they won't rush their cornerstone. 'It's tempting,' Roberts said with a smile. 'I'm sure Shohei is tempted to just rip the Band-Aid off and get into a big-league game, but I think we're doing a good job of trying to take care of him. And truth be told, I don't know if anyone knows the right time to get him into a big-league game, but we're still being very careful.' Ohtani has been only a designated hitter since he agreed to a 10-year, $700 million free-agent deal with the Dodgers. He immediately won his third MVP award in 2024, batting .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases for the eventual World Series champions. Ohtani was in his usual spot as the Dodgers' leadoff hitter for Tuesday night's game against the Padres. Los Angeles planned to throw yet another bullpen game due to the rotation's extensive injury woes. Snell also threw his first full bullpen session in two months on Tuesday at Petco Park. The two-time Cy Young winner, who will throw another 20 pitches on Friday, has said his arm is now pain free after he was shut down with left shoulder inflammation on April 6. Snell made only two starts this season before going on the injured list. He agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers last winter. ___ AP MLB:
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Chile loses at Bolivia and will miss third straight World Cup, Uruguay nears qualifying spot
Associated Press Chile will miss a third consecutive World Cup after losing 2-0 at Bolivia on Tuesday to remain last in South America's 10-team round-robin competition. Head coach Ricardo Gareca later said he he was standing down after his team's failure. Later, Uruguay beat Venezuela at home 2-0, with goals by Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and got close to one of the region's six direct spots in the World Cup with 24 points after 16 matches. The visitors, with 18 points, are one ahead of Bolivia in the fight for seventh place that grants an intercontinental playoff berth. Uruguay is seven points above eighth-place Bolivia. Defending champion Argentina has already qualified. Ecuador will secure its spot with a win at Peru. Brazil and Paraguay, which face off later on Tuesday, could also qualify. Also on Tuesday, Lionel Messi's Argentina hosts Colombia, which is also seeking a direct spot in the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Golden generation gone Chile's golden generation won two Copa America titles — in 2015 and '16 — but is out of contention for next year's expanded 48-team tournament. 'Sad, I am feeling bad. Never lived something like this. We have to ask people to forgive us,' veteran Chile striker Alexis Sanchez said. 'We have to keep working. There's change already, the golden generation is buried, I am the only one left." Bolivia scored first via Miguel Terceros in the fifth minute and added a second in the 90th with Enzo Monteiro at the 4,150-meter high El Alto Stadium, outside La Paz. Gareca, the 67-year-old Argentinian coach who took Peru to the 2018 World Cup, told a post-game news conference he was leaving the team after a 17-match stretch that included four wins, four draws and nine losses. 'I want to publicly thank the players and the executives for the support they gave us until the very end,' Gareca said. ___ AP soccer: recommended
