Australia has avoided a repeat of the infamous Jonny Bairstow stumping after captain Steve Smith withdrew an appeal for a potentially controversial run out during Friday’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan in Lahore.

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During the 47th over of Afghanistan’s innings at Gaddafi Stadium, all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai hit Australian seamer Nathan Ellis through mid-wicket for a regulation single, ensuring he was on strike for the start of the next over.

However, Noor Ahmad carelessly wandered out of his crease at the striker’s end before Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis retrieved the ball from the fielder, with the gloveman whipping off the bails and appealing for a run out.

Umpire Kumar Dharmasena initially sent the decision upstairs before Smith intervened, signalling to the match officials he wanted to withdraw the appeal.

Law 20.1.2 states: “The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.”

If Australia had not withdrawn the appeal, umpires could have adjudicated that Ahmad was run out because Inglis didn’t consider the ball to be dead. However, replays showed that umpire Alex Wharf was handing Ellis his cap before the attempted run out, suggesting he believed the over had been completed.

Noor, unbeaten on 3 at the time, was eventually dismissed off the final delivery of the innings for 6, with Afghanistan bowled out for 273.

The incident was similar to the non-dismissal of Tom Curran during an ILT20 match in January, with the England all-rounder leaving his crease before the ball was dead.

Friday’s match ended as a washout, with Australia qualifying for the Champions Trophy semi-finals for the first time since 2009. Afghanistan needs England to defeat South Africa by a massive margin during Saturday’s match in Karachi to qualify for the knockouts on net run rate.