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In Pics: Steve Smith upholds ‘Spirit of Cricket’ and withdraws run-out appeal against Noor Ahmad

Australian cricket captain Steve Smith shows great sportsmanship after taking back a run-out appeal against Noor Ahmad in the Champions Trophy match in Lahore.

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Steve Smith withdraws appeal vs Noor Ahmad

Steve Smith withdraws appeal vs Noor Ahmad Photograph: (X)

Australian skipper Steve Smith won the hearts of cricket fans across the world with his sportsmanship and spirit. The incident happened in the Australia vs Afghanistan game that was played on Friday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Australian players went up in huge appeal after Josh Inglis whipped off the bails after Noor Ahmad walked out of the crease once the umpires called an end to the over. 

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Steve Smith, though, waved the appeals away in what has been seen as a massive ‘Spirit of Cricket’ moment. Fans in the stadium gave the Australian captain a huge applause after the decision to withdraw the appeal. Australia, who have often used the ‘win at all costs’ approach in the past, have shown a change of attitude with this move. 

Watch the pictures here:

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan skipper Hasmatullah Shahidi won the toss and chose to bat first. It is a key game for the Afghans as a win can keep their hopes of making it to the semi-finals alive. Fifties from Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai saw Afghanistan score 273 from their 50 overs. 

Australia set tricky total to chase in Lahore 

Spencer Johnson got things off to a great start for Australia when he bowled a perfect yorker to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck. Ibrahim Zadran, who scored 177 in the last match, was out after scoring 22 and adding 67 runs for the second wicket with Atal. Zadran was dismissed by Adam Zampa and caught by Marnus Labuschagne. 

Sediqullah Atal scored 85 off 95 balls with six fours and three sixes before falling to Johnson in the 32nd over. Azmatullah Omarzai, who had picked a fifer in the last match versus England, then scored 67 off 63 balls with one four and five huge sixes. The best bowler for Australia was Ben Dwarshuis, who picked 3/47 from his nine overs. 

Speaking at the mid-innings break, Adam Zampa said, “Mixed bag today, was struggling to find my lengths but was able to create a couple of opportunities which were taken. Bowled a couple of overs after the powerplay, it held on a bit back then, but when the ball got older, it came on better onto the bat”

Steve Smith Noor Ahmad