Champions Trophy: England beaten by Australia as Josh Inglis cracks maiden ODI ton in ICC tournament-record chase

Posted by author February 22, 2025 Cricket

England suffered a devastating five-wicket defeat in their Champions Trophy opener as Australia chased down an ICC tournament-record target of 352 in Lahore, with Josh Inglis hitting a magnificent maiden ODI ton.

Ben Duckett had earlier set a new Champions Trophy record with a stunning 165 off 143 balls to help propel England to an imposing total of 351-8, but a banged-up bowling attack failed to defend it.

Jofra Archer (1-82) had numerous spells off the field seemingly suffering with cramp, while Brydon Carse (1-69 off seven overs) too looked troubled by a niggle, and though Jos Buttler was able to call on both during the latter stages of Australia’s chase, neither looked at their best – and Archer dropped Alex Carey (69 off 63) when on 49.

Had that chance at deep midwicket been taken, Australia would have been five down and still requiring 104 from the final 12 overs.

Instead, Carey and Inglis (120no off 86) shared in a match-winning 146-run partnership, the latter bringing up a magnificent 77-ball hundred as he helped steer his side to a memorable victory.

Duckett hits record ton after England inserted

Earlier, Steve Smith opted to insert England on a belting batting pitch at the toss, despite the inexperienced pace attack at his disposal – permanent skipper Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood missing from the tournament to injury, and Mitchell Starc due to personal reasons.

Left-armer Ben Dwarshuis (3-66) bagged a couple of early wickets in Phil Salt (10) and the newly-promoted Jamie Smith (15) at No 3 – Carey making the first of two stunning, leaping grabs for the innings to see off Salt.

Despite the breakthroughs, England were scoring at a rapid rate, with Duckett quickly into his stride on his way to a third ODI century and his highest score, superbly supported by Joe Root (68) in a 158-run stand for the third wicket.

Australia would have to wait until the 31st over for that third wicket to duly arrive, a marginal Root lbw to an Adam Zampa (2-64) googly confirmed as ‘umpire’s call’ by DRS.

Duckett kicked on to his 95-ball hundred in the next over, but Harry Brook (3) came and went cheaply, Zampa’s second courtesy of that second bit of magic from Carey in the field.

Buttler (23 off 21) put on 61 with Duckett and the pair just looked ready to launch in the final 10 overs when the England skipper perished in the deep to Glenn Maxwell, having struck the off-spinner for six and four earlier in the 41st over.

Part-time leg-spinner Marnush Labuschagne also snatched a couple of wickets late on, including that of Duckett’s but England will have largely been pleased with their score of 351-8 – a new Champions Trophy record, but not for long.

Inglis rallies Australia to ICC record run-chase

Much like England’s innings, Australia lost a couple early on, a fresh Archer accounting for Travis Head (6) – caught and bowled – and a fiery, fast opening spell from Mark Wood (1-75) the undoing of Smith (5).

Matthew Short (63) and Labuschagne (47), impressively rebuilt, keeping up with the required rate too, before suddenly being bottled up by England’s spinners – both gone in the space of three overs.

Adil Rashid (1-47) accounted for Labuschagne, caught at cover, and Liam Livingstone (1-47) swiftly added Short, caught and bowled, reducing Australia to 136-4 in the 23rd over.

Prior to the match, it appeared England might be a bowler light in the makeup of their side, with 10 overs needing to be shared by Livingstone and Root, but they held up their end of the bargain impressively enough.

The issue instead lay with the struggles of their fast bowlers, with only Wood seemingly operating at full fitness – and Inglis and Carey quickly got their eye in and cashed in as a result.

Archer’s drop of Carey was costly, and though Carse would take his wicket later in the innings, Inglis’ sublime century and a typically swashbuckling cameo from Maxwell (32no off 15) fired Australia to a stunning opening win in Group B – and with 15 balls to spare!

‘Brilliant’ and ‘extraordinary’ win by Australia

England’s captain Jos Buttler:

“It was a fantastic game, I thought we put on a really good score there and credit to Australia, a fantastic innings from Inglis to see his side home.

“It’s a little bit wet and that was always the worry that dew would become a factor but, whatever happens with the conditions, to chase down 350 is a brilliant effort.

“Ben Duckett has played brilliantly at the top of the order in all formats. We’ve been wanting players in our side to go on and make big contributions – he’s been threatening to do that for a long time, and he can be incredibly consistent at doing that in this format. It’s just a shame it was in a losing cause.

“I have immense belief in the guys [to get through the group stages] and optimism. If we can keep putting 350 on the board, there won’t be many times we’ll be on the losing side.”

Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain:

“Inglis was on it from ball one, he got off the mark straight away with a boundary, he’s arguably one of their better players of spin and that’s why he’s come into the side.

“Him and Carey were just amazing. When you see 350 you panic a bit and go too hard too early, but they didn’t, they were always up with the rate, lost two early wickets and didn’t panic.

“That is an extraordinary win and they’ve done it without some of their best bowlers, they kept England below par and won it comfortably.”

What’s next?

Pakistan face India as one of the most intense sporting rivalries in the world takes centre stage again, in the unusual setting of Dubai, despite Pakistan serving as tournament hosts.

And it’s a vitally important game for Pakistan too after an opening defeat to New Zealand on Wednesday, and with India having won their opening Group A match against Bangladesh – watch live on Sky Sports Cricket from 8.30am, Sunday, ahead of play starting at 9am UK time.

In Group B, England are next in action on Wednesday when they face Afghanistan, also in Lahore, while Australia face South Africa in Rawalpindi a day earlier on Tuesday – both matches also live on Sky Sports Cricket.