Inglis sinks England, Australia clinch Champions Trophy thriller

Ben Duckett’s record 165 went in vain as Australia made a dazzling start thanks to a superb maiden century from Josh Inglis when they conquered England by five wickets in their Group B opener of the ICC Champions Trophy at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

Josh Inglis hammered 120 not out off 86 balls and was ably backed by Alex Carey (69), Matthew Short (63) and Glenn Maxwell (32 not out) to help Australia chase the 352-run target in the 48th after losing five wickets.

This is also a record chase in the ICC ODI events history and is also the highest chase at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore in the ODI cricket. The previous biggest chase at this venue had been managed by Pakistan when they had achieved the 349-run target for the loss of four wickets against Australia on March 31, 2022.

Chasing a huge total Australia had a disappointing start. They lost Travis Head (6) and skipper Steven Smith (5) in quick succession to leave them reeling at 27-2 in the fifth over.

Travis was smartly caught by Jofra Archer off his own bowling while Smith edged Mark Wood to Ben Duckett in the slips.

At this stage Matthew Short and Marnus Labuschagne batted extremely well, adding 95 runs off 91 balls for the third wicket stand to give stability to the chase.

Specialist spinner Adil Rashid gave a huge breakthrough to England when he had Labuschagne, held by Buttler at short cover.

He hit five fours in his 45-ball knock. Immediately after Liam Livingstone took a big wicket when he held Matthew Short off his own bowling to leave Australia at 136-4 in the 23rd over. Short, who brought in fifty off 47 balls, smacked one six and nine fours from 66 balls.

However, this did not dent Australia’s intent to achieve the target. And this time Josh Inglis and Alex Carey, dropped on 49, did the job, sharing 146 off 116 balls for the fifth wicket stand to keep Australia in the hunt.

It was pacer Brydon Carse who got rid of Alex Carey who scored superb 63-ball 69, smashing eight exquisite fours. Australia were 282-5 in 43rd over when Carey departed.

However, Inglis and Glenn Maxwell then kept punishing English bowlers with freedom and stitched a 74-run unbroken partnership off just 36 balls for the sixth wicket to make their side home in style.

Inglis, who brought in his ton off 77 balls, hammered six sixes and eight fours in his stunning knock while Maxwell smacked two sixes and four fours in his 15-ball 32 not out.

Adil Rashid (1-47 in 10), Carse (1-69 in 7), Mark Wood (1-75 in 9.3), Liam Livingston (1-47 in 7) and Jofra Archer (1-82 in 10) did not impress.

Earlier in front of a thick crowd Ben Duckett set a new record of the ICC Champions Trophy as he blasted 165 to guide England to a decent total of 351-8.

This is the highest individual score in the Champions Trophy history. Before this New Zealand’s Nathan Astle held the record by smashing 145 not out against USA at The Oval on September 10, 2004.

Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower had also struck 145 against India at Colombo on September 14, 2002.

After losing Phil Salt (10) and Jamie Smith (15) early Duckett and Joe Root (68) batted with an immense responsibility and added 158 off 155 balls for the third wicket association to pave way for posting a huge total on the deck which had nothing special for the bowlers.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa, eventually, gave the breakthrough to Australia when he broke the stand by removing Root leg before. The right-hander went for a sweep, missed it and it hit him right in front and the review confirmed the on-field umpire’s decision.

Root, who brought in his 41st fifty, struck four fours from 78 deliveries.

Duckett continued to build the innings. He also dominated 61-run fifth wicket partnership with skipper Jos Buttler who fell for a 21-ball 23, striking one six and a four.

Duckett eventually got out in the 48th over when he had done his job. He went for a slog-sweep off spinner Marnus Labuschagne but it kept low and hit the left-hander on his back leg.

Ducket’s innings was marked by smart mixture of attack and defense and the way he kept using his feet was excellent.

Duckett hammered three sixes and 17 fours in his 143-ball excellent knock.

Duckett’s fifty came off 49 balls, his 100 in 95 deliveries and he completed his 150 in 134 balls.

This was third century from Duckett in ODI cricket in his 20th game.

Left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis, playing his third ODI, provided an early breakthrough when he removed Phil Salt (10) in the second over with Alex Carey managing a stunning one-handed catch at mid-on.

Salt struck one six and one four from six balls.

Jamie Smith joined Duckett and tried to leave an impression but his glorious start was cut short when Dwarshuis got rid of him, held by Carey again at mid-on to leave England reeling at 43-2 in the sixth over.

However, Joe Root and Duckett then did their best to enable England post a fine total in the end.

Left-armer Ben Dwarshuis was the pick of the bowlers with 3-66 in his quota of ten overs.

Adam Zampa (2-64 in 10) and Marnus Labuschagne (2-45 in five) were the other successful bowlers.

Glenn Maxwell remained the most expensive bowler as he finished with 1-58 in seven overs.

Ahsan Raza served as on-field umpire after Chris Gaffaney fell sick and that also forced Rashid Riaz to go into the role of the fourth umpire.