The all-important ICC Champions Trophy Group B match between Australia and Afghanistan in Lahore on Friday ended in a no result due to rain, sending Australia through to the semifinals while leaving Afghanistan's hopes of making it to the top four on the brink. 

Australia, chasing 274 to win, were 109-1 after 12.5 overs with Travis Head and Steve Smith unbeaten on 59 off 40 and 19 off 22 respectively before rain halted play and did not allow it to resume.

With one point from the match, Australia edged South Africa and jumped to the top-spot in Group B with four points in three games.

South Africa and Afghanistan have three points each. Afghanistan have already played their last game in the group phase while the Proteas will be taking on bottom-placed England today in Karachi.

If South Africa beat England, who have already been eliminated after losing both their games so far, the Proteas would reach the semifinal as Group B champions. 

For Afghanistan to qualify, England will have to beat South Africa by at least 207 runs if they bat first and if they bat second, they will have to chase down the target within 11.1 overs, assuming a first innings total of 300 in both cases.

In Friday's game, Sediqullah Atal scored 85 while Azmatullah Omarzai made 67 in Afghanistan's total of 273 all out in 50 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Atal scored a 95-ball 85 with six fours and three sixes before Omarzai boosted the total at the end with a 63-ball 67 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Batting first after winning the toss in overcast conditions, Afghanistan lost opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for nought in the first over to Spencer Johnson.

Ibrahim Zadran, hero of Afghanistan's win over England in the first match with the highest-ever Champions trophy score of 177, added 67 for the second wicket with Atal before he fell for 22 to spinner Adam Zampa.

Atal and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (20) put on 68 for the fourth wicket before Australia fought back with four wickets for just 40 runs.

At 199-7 Afghanistan were in danger of being dismissed for a below-par total but Omarzai held the innings together, smashing five sixes, adding an invaluable 74 runs with the last three wickets.

Ben Dwarshuis was the best Australian bowler with 3-47 while Zampa took 2-48 and Johnson finished with 2-49.