While the two teams from Group A &ndash; India and New Zealand have qualified for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">Champions Trophy 2025</a> semi-finals, the fight for the remaining two spots continues in the other group, with plenty happening since Wednesday's thriller between Afghanistan and England in Lahore. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-ibrahims-177-helps-afghanistan-knock-out-england-8759862" rel="dofollow">England is out of the semis race</a>, leaving three teams (Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan) fighting for the two positions in the final four. So, who makes it through? Can Afghanistan realise their dream, or would the Proteas and Aussies advance?
<h2>Group B scenarios</h2>
Afghanistan's win over England increases their chances of reaching the Champions Trophy semis in their maiden appearance but also leaves doors open for Australia and South Africa to cruise ahead.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/afg-vs-eng-dressing-room-erupts-in-joy-after-afghanistan-win-first-champions-trophy-match-against-england-watch-8760685" rel="dofollow">Watch - Dressing room erupts in joy after Afghanistan win first Champions Trophy match</a>
Meanwhile, all four teams have played two games each, with Proteas and Aussies sitting at the top with three points each besides their names, having won one and attaining one point from their washed-out tie earlier. Afghanistan is third on the list with one win and a loss in two matches, with England knocked out from the semis race after going down in their two successive games.
<h3>How can Australia and South Africa qualify?</h3>
Australia face Afghanistan in their final league game on Friday (Feb 28) in Lahore, and a win there would confirm their qualification in the last four. On the other hand, the Proteas' game against England will also be crucial to their chances.&nbsp;
Should South Africa beat them in Karachi on Saturday (Mar 1), they will join Australia from Group B in the semis. However, the outcomes of their final league matches will determine their positions on the points table.
Considering another case scenario, where Australia beat Afghanistan and England upset the Proteas, the Aussies would end the league games with five points, while South Africa would have three.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/jos-buttler-drops-hint-on-captaincy-future-after-afghanistan-shocker-in-champions-trophy-says-all-possibilities-to-be-considered-8760313" rel="dofollow">England skipper Jos Buttler admits captaincy is at stake after Afghanistan shocker</a>
<h3>How can Afghanistan qualify for Champions Trophy semis?</h3>
Afghanistan has been on a rampage since the ODI World Cup in India, where they beat three former world champions, including England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in their group stage, narrowly missing out on the semis spot.&nbsp;
Next year, during the T20 World Cup in the Americas, they stunned the world with comprehensive wins over New Zealand and Australia in the group games, qualifying for their maiden semis in the tournament. South Africa crushed them in a one-sided contest in the semi-final.
In the 2025 Champions Trophy, they lost their tournament opener to South Africa by 105 runs, but a win over England has kept their hopes alive. Though still low on NRR, beating the defending world champions Australia in their last league match will seal their ticket for the semis, creating history.
However, should they lose, they&rsquo;d be out of the tournament.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Only India and New Zealand from Group A have qualified for the Champions Trophy semis thus far, with the fight for the remaining two spots continuing in Group B.

While the two teams from Group A – India and New Zealand have qualified for the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals, the fight for the remaining two spots continues in the other group, with plenty happening since Wednesday's thriller between Afghanistan and England in Lahore. England is out of the semis race, leaving three teams (Australia, South Africa and Afghanistan) fighting for the two positions in the final four. So, who makes it through? Can Afghanistan realise their dream, or would the Proteas and Aussies advance? Group B scenarios Afghanistan's win over England increases their chances of reaching the Champions Trophy semis in their maiden appearance but also leaves doors open for Australia and South Africa to cruise ahead. Also read | Watch - Dressing room erupts in joy after Afghanistan win first Champions Trophy match Meanwhile, all four teams have played two games each, with Proteas and Aussies sitting at the top with three points each besides their names, having won one and attaining one point from their washed-out tie earlier. Afghanistan is third on the list with one win and a loss in two matches, with England knocked out from the semis race after going down in their two successive games. How can Australia and South Africa qualify? Australia face Afghanistan in their final league game on Friday (Feb 28) in Lahore, and a win there would confirm their qualification in the last four. On the other hand, the Proteas' game against England will also be crucial to their chances. Should South Africa beat them in Karachi on Saturday (Mar 1), they will join Australia from Group B in the semis. However, the outcomes of their final league matches will determine their positions on the points table. Considering another case scenario, where Australia beat Afghanistan and England upset the Proteas, the Aussies would end the league games with five points, while South Africa would have three. Also read | England skipper Jos Buttler admits captaincy is at stake after Afghanistan shocker How can Afghanistan qualify for Champions Trophy semis? Afghanistan has been on a rampage since the ODI World Cup in India, where they beat three former world champions, including England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in their group stage, narrowly missing out on the semis spot. Next year, during the T20 World Cup in the Americas, they stunned the world with comprehensive wins over New Zealand and Australia in the group games, qualifying for their maiden semis in the tournament. South Africa crushed them in a one-sided contest in the semi-final. In the 2025 Champions Trophy, they lost their tournament opener to South Africa by 105 runs, but a win over England has kept their hopes alive. Though still low on NRR, beating the defending world champions Australia in their last league match will seal their ticket for the semis, creating history. However, should they lose, they’d be out of the tournament. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: Who will qualify for semis from Group B? Do Afghanistan stand a chance?

Novak Djokovic said he is "getting better and better" after easing into the Tokyo Olympics men's tennis semi-finals on Thursday with a straight-set thrashing of Japanese hope Kei Nishikori.

The world number one, chasing a calendar Golden Grand Slam, ended home interest in the tennis with a ruthless 6-2, 6-0 victory in only 70 minutes.

Djokovic has never won the Olympic singles title, with a bronze medal in 2008 his best result at the Games, but will face either Alexander Zverev or Jeremy Chardy in the last four.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tokyo-2020-novak-djokovic-just-one-step-away-from-equalling-roger-federers-olympic-record-401356" hreflang="en">Tokyo 2020: Novak Djokovic just one step away from equalling Roger Federer's Olympic record</a>

"I'm very happy, my best performance in the tournament," said the top seed.

"Matches are not getting easier, but my level of tennis is getting better and better.

"I've done that many, many times in my career. I know that I'm (the) kind of player that the further the tournament goes, the better I'm feeling on the court."

The 34-year-old Serb, who has already captured the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon titles this season, was never in trouble against Nishikori, who made 16 unforced errors.

The former world number four did save two match points in the final game, but Djokovic made no mistake on the next opportunity.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="Tokyo Olympics: American star pole-vaulter Sam Kendricks tests positive for COVID-19">Tokyo Olympics: American star pole-vaulter Sam Kendricks tests positive for COVID-19</a>

<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

The quarter-final was played in cooler conditions than earlier in the tournament after Djokovic lobbied organizers to change the schedule, moving the day's start time from 11:00 am local time (0200 GMT) to 3:00 pm.

It was also the second match on the center court at the Ariake Tennis Park after the women's semi-final between Belinda Bencic and Elena Rybakina lasted almost three hours in the still suffocating heat.

"It was fantastic. Playing after&nbsp;five (pm)&nbsp;is completely different," said Djokovic.

"Obviously, there is&nbsp;a little bit of a breeze, but still very, very humid, you sweat a lot, but you don't have the heat, you don't have the sun that, in combination with the humidity,&nbsp;is just brutal."

Novak Djokovic said he is "getting better and better" after easing into the Tokyo Olympics men's tennis semi-finals on Thursday with a straight-set thrashing of Japanese hope Kei Nishikori.

Novak Djokovic said he is "getting better and better" after easing into the Tokyo Olympics men's tennis semi-finals on Thursday with a straight-set thrashing of Japanese hope Kei Nishikori. The world number one, chasing a calendar Golden Grand Slam, ended home interest in the tennis with a ruthless 6-2, 6-0 victory in only 70 minutes. Djokovic has never won the Olympic singles title, with a bronze medal in 2008 his best result at the Games, but will face either Alexander Zverev or Jeremy Chardy in the last four. ALSO READ: Tokyo 2020: Novak Djokovic just one step away from equalling Roger Federer's Olympic record "I'm very happy, my best performance in the tournament," said the top seed. "Matches are not getting easier, but my level of tennis is getting better and better. "I've done that many, many times in my career. I know that I'm (the) kind of player that the further the tournament goes, the better I'm feeling on the court." The 34-year-old Serb, who has already captured the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon titles this season, was never in trouble against Nishikori, who made 16 unforced errors. The former world number four did save two match points in the final game, but Djokovic made no mistake on the next opportunity. ALSO READ: Tokyo Olympics: American star pole-vaulter Sam Kendricks tests positive for COVID-19 The quarter-final was played in cooler conditions than earlier in the tournament after Djokovic lobbied organizers to change the schedule, moving the day's start time from 11:00 am local time (0200 GMT) to 3:00 pm. It was also the second match on the center court at the Ariake Tennis Park after the women's semi-final between Belinda Bencic and Elena Rybakina lasted almost three hours in the still suffocating heat. "It was fantastic. Playing after five (pm) is completely different," said Djokovic. "Obviously, there is a little bit of a breeze, but still very, very humid, you sweat a lot, but you don't have the heat, you don't have the sun that, in combination with the humidity, is just brutal."

Tokyo 2020: Novak Djokovic says he's 'getting better' after cruising into Olympic semis

Rafael Nadal extended his astonishing winning run on clay to 42 consecutive sets as he reached the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open with a 6-0 7-5 victory over Slovakia's Martin Klizan on Friday.

The defending champion will face David Goffin on Saturday after the Belgian beat Spaniard Roberto Bautista 6-7(3) 6-2 6-2.

Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas also reached the last four after overwhelming third seed Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-2 and the 19-year-old will next face Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, who served up another upset by defeating second seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 7-6(4).

World number 140 Klizan, who had knocked out Novak Djokovic in the second round, came within a point of being the first player since Thiem in May 2017 to win a set against the Mallorcan on the slow surface but the world number one's famed battling skills denied him that moment of glory.

After romping through the opening set, Nadal lost his focus and surrendered his serve at the start of the second set. But just as Klizan appeared to be on the verge of delivering a psychological blow, the 10-times Barcelona champion saved the set point at 4-5 down before breaking back to level.

He held in the next game to take the lead for the first time in the second set and then broke a tired Klizan to clinch his place in the semis.

"He played very aggressively and caused me a lot of discomfort... he was unpredictable and that caused me confusion. It was tough, but the important thing was not to fail," Nadal told a news conference.

Tsitsipas converted four out of eight break points and made Thiem pay for an error-strewn display to secure the biggest win of his career.

Thiem began the contest strongly and came within a point of going up 3-0 in the opening set but allowed Tsitsipas to fight back. The Greek won a decisive break to go ahead at 5-3 after a double fault by Thiem and then served out the set.

Tsitsipas broke at 2-2 in the second set after more wayward hitting by Thiem and the world number 63 pulled away to seal the match.

Carreno Busta, seeded fifth in Barcelona, saw off Dimitrov to reach his second semi-final of the year and level his head-to-head with the Bulgarian at three wins apiece.

Rafael Nadal extended his astonishing winning run on clay to 42 consecutive sets as he reached the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open with a 6-0 7-5 victory over Slovakia's Martin Klizan on Friday

Rafael Nadal extended his astonishing winning run on clay to 42 consecutive sets as he reached the semi-finals of the Barcelona Open with a 6-0 7-5 victory over Slovakia's Martin Klizan on Friday. The defending champion will face David Goffin on Saturday after the Belgian beat Spaniard Roberto Bautista 6-7(3) 6-2 6-2. Greek teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas also reached the last four after overwhelming third seed Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-2 and the 19-year-old will next face Spain's Pablo Carreno Busta, who served up another upset by defeating second seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 7-6(4). World number 140 Klizan, who had knocked out Novak Djokovic in the second round, came within a point of being the first player since Thiem in May 2017 to win a set against the Mallorcan on the slow surface but the world number one's famed battling skills denied him that moment of glory. After romping through the opening set, Nadal lost his focus and surrendered his serve at the start of the second set. But just as Klizan appeared to be on the verge of delivering a psychological blow, the 10-times Barcelona champion saved the set point at 4-5 down before breaking back to level. He held in the next game to take the lead for the first time in the second set and then broke a tired Klizan to clinch his place in the semis. "He played very aggressively and caused me a lot of discomfort... he was unpredictable and that caused me confusion. It was tough, but the important thing was not to fail," Nadal told a news conference. Tsitsipas converted four out of eight break points and made Thiem pay for an error-strewn display to secure the biggest win of his career. Thiem began the contest strongly and came within a point of going up 3-0 in the opening set but allowed Tsitsipas to fight back. The Greek won a decisive break to go ahead at 5-3 after a double fault by Thiem and then served out the set. Tsitsipas broke at 2-2 in the second set after more wayward hitting by Thiem and the world number 63 pulled away to seal the match. Carreno Busta, seeded fifth in Barcelona, saw off Dimitrov to reach his second semi-final of the year and level his head-to-head with the Bulgarian at three wins apiece.

Nadal keeps up winning run to reach Barcelona semis, Tsitsipas stuns Thiem

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