Australia stunned England with a remarkable record-breaking run chase at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, overcoming a mammoth target of 352 to win by five wickets with 15 balls to spare. This victory marked the highest successful run chase in ICC Champions Trophy history, surpassing Pakistan's chase of 345 against Sri Lanka in 2023.
Ben Duckett's magnificent 165, the highest individual score in the history of the Champions Trophy, had earlier propelled England to a formidable 351-8.
However, despite their impressive total, England’s bowling attack faltered under the floodlights, allowing Australia to mount a stunning chase led by wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, who finished with an unbeaten 120 off 86 balls.
Inglis, along with Glenn Maxwell, who contributed a blistering 32 off 15 balls, guided Australia to their record chase. The pair’s efforts were crucial, as they steered the team from a precarious position of 136-4 to victory, surpassing the previous record for the highest successful run chase in ODI tournaments.
England's hopes of an early victory seemed strong when Australia found themselves in deep trouble at 27-2 within the first five overs. With Travis Head dismissed for six and Steve Smith falling for five, England looked poised to strike.
However, a spirited 95-run partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Short provided much-needed stability for Australia. Labuschagne scored 47 off 45 balls, while Short contributed a solid 63 from 66 deliveries.
Despite the setbacks, Inglis, who hails from Yorkshire before moving to Australia, orchestrated a match-defining partnership with Alex Carey, who contributed 69 runs from 63 balls. Carey was dropped on 49, a missed opportunity that proved costly for England. Although Carey was eventually dismissed, the momentum had shifted decisively in Australia’s favor.
Inglis, remaining calm under pressure, continued his charge, finishing with 120* from 86 balls, featuring eight boundaries and six sixes. His partnership with Glenn Maxwell, which added 70 runs, proved instrumental in the chase.
Maxwell’s quick-fire 32 from 15 balls, including crucial boundaries, further demoralized England. Even a late no-ball reprieve for Maxwell, after he was caught, had no impact as Australia comfortably reached their target.
Earlier in the day, England’s innings had been built around Duckett’s exceptional knock and a solid third-wicket partnership with Joe Root, who made 68 off 78 balls. However, England’s early setbacks, courtesy of Ben Dwarshuis, who claimed 3-66, had put them on the back foot.
Dwarshuis dismissed both openers, Phil Salt and Jamie Smith, for just 10 and 15 runs, respectively, reducing England to 43-2 inside six overs.
Duckett and Root steadied the ship with a 158-run partnership, but after Root’s dismissal, England’s innings began to falter. Duckett continued to anchor the innings, forging crucial partnerships with Jos Buttler (23), Liam Livingstone (14), and Brydon Carse (eight). However, Duckett’s innings finally came to an end when he was dismissed for 165 by Marnus Labuschagne in the 48th over.
Inglis' brilliance and Australia’s dramatic recovery overshadowed Duckett’s heroics, as England's bowlers struggled to contain the Australian charge.
The defeat leaves England in a difficult position, needing wins in their remaining group-stage matches against Afghanistan and South Africa to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Any further slip-ups could see them exit the tournament early.
For England, the loss marks another disappointing chapter in their recent ODI form, having now lost 11 of their last 15 matches. Despite a collective effort with the ball from Liam Livingstone, Rashid, Carse, Jofra Archer, and Mark Wood, they were unable to halt Australia’s relentless chase.
With the pressure mounting, England must bounce back quickly if they are to have any hope of advancing in the competition. Their next two matches against Afghanistan on Wednesday and South Africa on Saturday are crucial, with their semi-final hopes hanging by a thread.
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