New Delhi: Josh Inglis scored his maiden ton to help Australia with a record-breaking chase, securing a five-wicket victory over England in Lahore in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025.
The England-born 29-year-old blasted an unbeaten 120 off 86 deliveries, guiding Australia to 356/5 in 47.3 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium. This was the highest-ever run chase in Champions Trophy history.
England had posted the highest-ever total in the tournament’s history (351/8), despite no batter scoring over 25 apart from the top-scorers. It took full advantage of Australia’s inexperienced attack—the least seasoned at an ICC ODI event since 1983.
Australia was without key quicks Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, as well as seam-bowling all-rounders Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis. Australia now holds the record for the highest total in Champions Trophy history (356/5).
Australian middle order batter Jos Inglis’s innings overshadowed England opener Ben Duckett’s 165—the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history.
Duckett’s record-breaking innings received strong support from Joe Root, who scored a measured 68 in a third-wicket partnership of 158, but Australia also pulled off a record chase later in the second innings.
The first ICC event match in Lahore since 1996 saw batting dominate the proceedings, with bowlers having little room for error on a very flat pitch.
Inglis was hard to contain for the English bowlers, smashing six sixes and eight boundaries to seal the win for Australia.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Australia stumbled early, losing Travis Head and Steve Smith for just 27 runs. Matthew Short and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the ship with a 95-run partnership, but England’s spinners Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid struck back.
Just when it seemed like the chase was slipping away, the wicket-keeper duo of Alex Carey and Inglis stepped up. They added 146 crucial runs for the fifth wicket, with Carey fighting hard for his 69. Inglis, meanwhile, brought up his century in style, reaching 100 off just 77 balls with back-to-back sixes.
Glenn Maxwell also joined the show and lit up the innings with a typical explosive cameo, blasting 32 (not out) from just 15 deliveries, including two sixes and four boundaries. Australia took a whopping 226 runs off England’s pace trio of Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse.
England’s defeat is being viewed as a crushing blow, leaving the team no room for error in its remaining matches against Afghanistan and South Africa, which have now become must-win for them to qualify further.
Australia and England have played 161 ODI matches so far. Australia has won 91 of those, while England won 65. Three matches produced no results, while two matches were tied.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
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