Australia pulled off a stunning run-chase to defeat England and open their Champions Trophy campaign with a five-wicket win in Lahore. Josh Inglis led the charge with a record-breaking 77-ball century, guiding Australia to their highest successful run chase in all ICC ODI tournaments at 356-5. England had set a competitive target of 351-8, with Ben Duckett smashing 165 to become the first batter in Champions Trophy history to score over 150 runs.
Despite a rocky start for Australia, with early dismissals of Travis Head and captain Steven Smith, Matthew Short and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the ship with a 95-run partnership. Inglis and Alex Carey then took charge, sharing a 146-run stand to set up the victory. Although England had opportunities, missed catches and a dew-laden ball made it difficult for their bowlers to contain the Aussie onslaught.
In the first match of the tournament at the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium, the crowd witnessed a thrilling contest as Duckett’s heroics with the bat were overshadowed by Australia’s remarkable chase. Despite their second-string pace attack struggling, Australia’s all-round performance sealed an impressive win against the defending champions. The atmosphere was electric, with both teams showcasing their talent in an exciting start to the Champions Trophy campaign.
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