Australia and Bangladesh saw Monday's Champions Trophy match at The Oval washed out just four overs short of forcing a result in a blow to both teams' hopes of reaching the semifinals. Having been rescued by the rain last week, London's inclement weather turned the tables on Australia and left them needing to win their last Group A match to avoid going out. It was the second straight 'no result' for Australia after a similar outcome against New Zealand at Edgbaston on Friday. They have just two points in the standings, meaning they must beat England in Birmingham on Saturday to have any chance of advancing to the semifinals. Bangladesh, who lost to England on Thursday, are also in peril. They were bowled out for 182 by Australia and then looked set to lose with their opponents handily placed 100 runs from victory with nine wickets in hand and 34 overs remaining when the rain came down. Australia, needing to bat 20 overs to conjure up a result, sat anxiously through a three-hour wait, willing away the clouds, but a persistent drizzle kept the covers on before the umpires abandoned play. David Warner had become the quickest Australian batsmen to reach 4,000 ODI runs — achieved in 93 innings — on his way to an unbeaten 40 with captain Steve Smith not out on 22 when Australia came off after 16 overs at 83-1. "We were heading down a pretty good path and it was disappointing not to get a result in the end," said Smith. "The game against England is now a quarterfinal as such. They're a good side and the equation is pretty simple now." Bangladesh must beat New Zealand in their last group game in Cardiff on Friday and hope England win their next two games in which case they would accompany the hosts to the semifinals. "Australia were unlucky and we are lucky to still be in the tournament. We have to play hard again, but we beat New Zealand in Ireland (in a warm-up match) so you never know," added Bangladesh skipper Mortaza. Sangakkara wants 'arrogant' Sri Lanka to challenge India A young Sri Lanka team must play with arrogance if they are to upset holders India in Thursday's Champions Trophy match at the Oval, former captain Kumar Sangakkara has said. The islanders had a nightmare start to their campaign, losing regular skipper Angelo Mathews to a calf injury before going down to South Africa in their Group B opener. As if that was not bad enough, stand-in skipper Upul Tharanga was then slapped with a two-match suspension for the team's slow over rate in the Proteas defeat. They next face the formidable task of taking on a rampant India side who crushed arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday despite not being at their best. "I would personally like this young Sri Lanka side to walk out at The Oval and play with the arrogance and abandon of youth," Sangakkara wrote in his column for the Cricket governing body website. "They should express their talent and play a really positive brand of Cricket. If they are able to do this, then they have a chance of pulling off an upset, but it will not be easy an India team that so confidently overwhelmed Pakistan on Sunday." The prospect of a return for Mathews represents a major boost for the squad but Sangakkara stressed they badly needed to resolve their shockingly poor over rate. "If Angelo, Sri Lanka's best batsman and captain, is deemed unavailable for this vital clash, it could severely hamper the team's chances of winning against India," the former wicketkeeper-batsman added. "Even if Angelo is considered fit, the threat of slow over-rate will be a major concern. Having Tharanga suspended is a huge waste. With quite an experienced and senior bowling attacked led by (seamer) Lasith Malinga, a team constituting two spinners, it is unacceptable that Sri Lanka was over by 39 minutes." — Reuters
