LAHORE, Pakistan: England’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign got off to a disastrous start as Australia pulled off a record-breaking run chase, overhauling a mammoth target of 352 with five wickets and 15 balls to spare at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Ben Duckett’s remarkable 165 powered England to 351-8—the highest total in ICC Champions Trophy history—but Australia responded in stunning fashion, led by wicketkeeper batter Josh Inglis’ unbeaten 120 from 86 balls.
Inglis, with his 120 (86) and Glenn Maxwell’s whirlwind 32 off 15 steered Australia to achieve the highest successful run chase of ICC’s ODI Tournaments surpassing Pakistan’s chase of 345 against Sri Lanka in 2023.
Inglis, alongside Alex Carey (69), orchestrated an extraordinary recovery from 136-4 to guide Australia to the highest successful chase in a global 50-over tournament.
The defeat leaves England in a precarious position, with little margin for error in their remaining group-stage matches against Afghanistan and South Africa.
Josh Inglis was also declared as man of the match.
Duckett’s heroics in vain
England’s innings had begun on a positive note, with Duckett anchoring the innings superbly. His 165 off 138 balls was a masterclass in controlled aggression, ensuring England built a strong platform at 200-2 after 30 overs. However, a late collapse meant they failed to fully capitalise, adding just 151 runs in the final 20 overs.
Highest successful chases in ICC ODI tournaments:
| Score | Team | Opposition | Year |
| 356-5 | Australia | England | 2025 |
| 345-4 | Pakistan | Sri Lanka | 2023 |
| 329-7 | Ireland | England | 2011 |
| 322-4 | Bangladesh | Scotland | 2015 |
| 322-3 | Sri Lanka | India | 2017 |
Despite their imposing total, England’s bowling attack failed to contain the Australian batters under lights.
Chasing 352, Australia found themselves in trouble at 136-4, with England sensing a crucial early win. Australia lost Travis Head for just six runs and Steve Smith for five within the first five overs, leaving them at a precarious 27 runs.
In the wake of those early setbacks, Marnus Labuschagne joined Matthew Short in the middle, sparking a revival with a brisk 95-run partnership that rekindled the hopes of the 2009 champions before both batsmen fell in quick succession. Labuschagne scored 47 off 45 balls, while Short dazzled with nine fours and a six, compiling a solid 63 from 66 deliveries.
However, Inglis, who was born and raised in Yorkshire before moving to Australia, turned the game around with a match-defining 146-run partnership with Carey.
Carey was dropped on 49—an error that proved costly for England. Although he eventually fell for 69 from 63 balls, peppered with eight boundaries, before succumbing to Brydon Carse in the 42nd over, the momentum had shifted decisively.
Inglis, however, stood resilient, finishing with an unbeaten 120 runs off 86 balls, adorned with eight fours and six sixes, guiding Australia to a morale-boosting win.
He also contributed to a crucial 70-run partnership with Glenn Maxwell.
Glenn Maxwell provided the final flourish with a blistering 32 off 15 balls, including crucial boundaries that further demoralised England. Even a late no-ball reprieve for Maxwell, after he was initially caught, proved inconsequential as Australia comfortably wrapped up the chase.
For England, it was a collective effort in the bowling department, with Liam Livingstone, Rashid, Carse, Jofra Archer, and Mark Wood each claiming a wicket.
Batting first, England set a formidable target of 351/8 in their allotted 50 overs, largely thanks to a marathon third-wicket partnership between Duckett and Joe Root. However, the 2019 World Cup winners’ innings got off to a shaky start as Ben Dwarshuis made his mark by dismissing opener Phil Salt for 10 and Jamie Smith for 15 in his first three overs, reducing England to 43/2 in just 5.2 overs.
Duckett and Root, however, steadied the ship, expertly navigating the inexperienced Australian bowling attack to add 158 runs to the total before Adam Zampa broke their partnership, sending Root back for 68 off 78 balls, embellished with four boundaries. Zampa struck again soon after, dismissing Harry Brook for a mere three runs, leaving England at 219/4 in the 34th over.
Duckett remained steadfast, forging vital partnerships with skipper Jos Buttler (23), Liam Livingstone (14), and Brydon Carse (eight) before finally falling to Marnus Labuschagne in the 48th over.
His remarkable innings of 165 off 143 balls, punctuated by 17 fours and three sixes, made him England’s top scorer.
Dwarshuis emerged as Australia’s standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 66 runs across his 10 overs, while Zampa and Labuschagne each took two. Glenn Maxwell contributed with one wicket, rounding off a thrilling contest.
The defeat marks another low point for England, who have now lost 11 of their last 15 ODIs. Their bowlers struggled under the lights, with Brydon Carse conceding 69 runs in just seven overs, while Jofra Archer’s drop of Carey at a critical stage compounded their woes.
With Afghanistan up next on Wednesday, followed by South Africa on Saturday, England must win both games to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Any further slip-ups could see them exit the tournament at the group stage.
