ICC Champions Trophy 2017: 5 reasons why Australia did not make it to the semi-final

#3 Wash out against Bangladesh

Just four overs away from a result, the match between Australia and Bangladesh was rained out

Following an abandoned game against New Zealand, Steven Smith and his men faced further agony when their second group game against Bangladesh was also washed out. Their fiery fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who bagged 4/29, had blown away the Bangladesh batting line-up with searing yorkers, and Bangladesh folded up for a meagre 182.

16 overs into the chase, Australia were sitting pretty at 83/1. The umpires then called for drinks, but the heavens opened up at The Oval only for play to never resume again. Just four overs away from a result, the match was rained out and the teams had to share a point each.

That meant Australia’s match against a rampaging England became a virtual quarter-final for them. Had this game been won by Australia – and there was a remote possibility that they would have lost – not only would they have got another point, but also Bangladesh would have been deprived of the point they got from the wash out.

That way, even with Bangladesh beating the Black Caps and Australia losing to England – both of which actually happened – Australia would have been ahead on points from Bangladesh, with the former having 3 while the latter having 2. That would have knocked Bangladesh out and brought Australia into the semis. Luck deserted them throughout the tournament.