ISLAMABAD: Australia achieved a remarkable victory over England in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, successfully chasing a target of 352 with five wickets to spare.
The chase was led by Josh Inglis, who scored his maiden ODI century off just 76 balls.
Australia were 122-3 when Inglis came in, following early wickets from Travis Head, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne.
He combined with Alex Carey for a crucial 146-run partnership for the sixth wicket before Carey was dismissed for 69 in the 42nd over.
With 70 runs required from 50 balls, Glenn Maxwell’s quick-fire 3 fours and a six helped ease the pressure, while Inglis reached his hundred with a six.
Australia’s second-largest successful chase
This was Australia’s second-largest successful chase in ODIs, following their 359-run chase against India in 2019.
This victory also marked the second time this month that a team had chased down a 350+ total, with Pakistan achieving a 355-run chase against South Africa earlier in the tri-series.
This win marked Australia’s first Champions Trophy victory since 2009, with their previous attempts in 2013 and 2017 ending in disappointment.
The chase was the 18th-highest in ODI history, with South Africa’s 434 against Australia in 2006 still topping the list.
It was also the most successful run chase in an ICC ODI event and the first to exceed 350 runs. Previously, Pakistan had chased down 344 against Sri Lanka in the 2023 World Cup, and Sri Lanka had chased 321 against India in the 2017 Champions Trophy.
Australia’s target of 352 was the highest-ever total in the Champions Trophy, whether batting first or second.
England failed only once to defend 350
England had previously failed to defend 350 only once, and now this loss makes it the second instance. In 2017, India chased down 350 against England in Pune.
Inglis played a starring role, finishing unbeaten on 120 from 86 balls, with eight fours and six sixes.
His strike rate of 139.53 made him the sixth Australian wicketkeeper to score an ODI hundred and the highest-ever score by an Australian wicketkeeper (excluding Adam Gilchrist). His 120* is the ninth-highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper in ODIs, with Gilchrist holding the top eight spots.
Jofra Archer came close to conceding the most runs in a spell in this Champions Trophy, giving up 82 runs from his 10 overs, while Haris Rauf had previously given away 83 against New Zealand.
Ben Duckett, who earlier became the first player to score 150 in a Champions Trophy, recorded the second-highest score by an English batter in a losing cause. Robin Smith’s 167* in 1993 remains the highest in such a scenario.
England’s next match is against Afghanistan on February 26, while Australia faces South Africa a day earlier.
