Australia secured a stunning victory over England in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, marking their first Champions Trophy victory since 2009. In an electrifying contest at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Josh Inglis smashed a record-equalling century, guiding Australia to a remarkable chase of 351/8 in 47.3 overs. Despite Ben Duckett‘s monumental 165, the highest individual score in the tournament’s history, England fell short as Inglis and Alex Carey powered Australia to a five-wicket win with 15 balls to spare.

England’s Batting Revival: Duckett and Root Lead the Charge

England entered the match amid concerns over their ODI form, but their batting performance showed marked improvement. Ben Duckett, anchoring the innings, produced a career-defining 165, while Joe Root’s composed 68 ensured England reached a formidable total.

Despite losing early wickets, England recovered through a 165-run partnership between Duckett and Root. Duckett, typically known for his aggressive stroke play, adjusted his approach to build a commanding innings. His shot selection and ability to rotate strike laid a strong foundation, while Root provided stability, ensuring England maintained a healthy scoring rate.

However, the late overs did not go entirely in England’s favor. Australia’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Ben Dwarshuis, disrupted England’s acceleration, preventing the total from exceeding 400—a possibility that loomed large at one stage. Dwarshuis’ 3-66 proved crucial in restricting England’s final push.

Australia’s Chase: Early Jolts but Inglis and Carey Steady the Ship

Chasing 351, Australia got off to a rocky start as Jofra Archer and Mark Wood struck early blows. Travis Head’s dismissal came in dramatic fashion, as a full delivery from Archer swung away late, catching the outside edge and looping back to the bowler. Steve Smith, too, fell cheaply, edging one to Ben Duckett at slip off Wood’s fiery spell.

However, Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Short absorbed the pressure, guiding Australia to 76/2 at the end of the PowerPlay. The duo played cautiously against Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone, but the scoring rate dropped. Rashid eventually broke the partnership, forcing Labuschagne into an aerial shot that landed safely in Jos Buttler’s hands at cover. Short, who reached a well-crafted half-century, followed soon after, returning a simple catch to Livingstone.

Josh Inglis and Alex Carey Take Control

With Australia still requiring over 200 runs, Josh Inglis and Alex Carey transformed the chase, countering England’s spin attack effectively. They targeted Livingstone and Brydon Carse, ensuring the scoring rate remained above six an over.

England’s bowlers struggled under the influence of heavy dew, which affected grip and made variations ineffective. Archer, returning for his second spell, attempted knuckleballs, but Inglis dispatched them for boundaries with ease. Their 100-run partnership came off just 79 balls, shifting the momentum entirely in Australia’s favor.

Carey, who reached his fifty in the 38th over, capitalized on an Archer drop in the deep, further denting England’s hopes. Although Carse finally broke the stand, Glenn Maxwell’s arrival in the 42nd over ensured Australia remained on track.

Inglis Smashes Joint-Fastest Champions Trophy Century

Josh Inglis, undeterred by England’s desperate bowling changes, blazed to a 77-ball century, equalling the fastest hundred in Champions Trophy history. With Maxwell adding a rapid 32 off 15 balls, Australia sealed the win convincingly.

The victory not only highlighted Inglis’ explosive batting but also underscored Australia’s tactical precision in reading the conditions. By opting to bowl first, they anticipated the impact of dew, which played a significant role in neutralizing England’s bowling attack.

Captain Reactions: Buttler and Smith Reflect on the Contest

Jos Buttler, England’s captain, conceded that dew played a crucial role in Australia’s successful chase but credited Josh Inglis for an outstanding knock. He praised Duckett’s brilliant innings but acknowledged that England’s inability to defend 351 was disappointing.

“We put on a really good score there, 350 is something we would take at the start. But credit to Australia, especially Josh Inglis, for the way they batted,” Buttler remarked. “Duckett was exceptional, and Root provided excellent support. We tried different strategies, but sometimes you have to acknowledge the opposition’s brilliance.”

Australian skipper Steve Smith lauded his team’s resilience, emphasizing their strategic approach to the chase. He noted that England seemed poised for a 400-plus total, but Australia’s disciplined bowling and calculated batting ensured a successful pursuit.

“The boys were outstanding from the outset. Inglis and Carey have been in top form, and today was a testament to their ability. The bowlers did a great job of pulling things back after England looked set for a massive score,” Smith stated.

🏏 Scorecard of Australia vs England ICC Champions Trophy 2025 – 4th Match, Group B

📍 Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
📅 Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
⏰ Time: 2:30 PM

Toss: Australia won the toss and opted to bowl
Result: Australia won by 5 wickets

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🏏 England Innings – 351/8 (50 Overs)

Batter	R	B	Mins	4s	6s	SR	Mode of Dismissal
Philip Salt	10	6	8	1	1	166.66	c Carey b Dwarshuis
Ben Duckett	165	143	215	17	3	115.38	lbw b Labuschagne
Jamie Smith (wk)	15	13	16	3	0	115.38	c Carey b Dwarshuis
Joe Root	68	78	106	4	0	87.17	lbw b Zampa
Harry Brook	3	6	16	0	0	50.00	c Carey b Zampa
Jos Buttler (c)	23	21	28	1	1	109.52	c Ellis b Maxwell
Liam Livingstone	14	17	26	0	1	82.35	c Ellis b Dwarshuis
Brydon Carse	8	7	13	0	0	114.28	c & b Labuschagne
Jofra Archer	21	10	10	2	1	210.00	not out
Adil Rashid	1	1	2	0	0	100.00	not out

🔹 Extras: 23 (b 5, lb 5, nb 2, w 11)
🔹 Total: 351/8 (50 Overs)

Fall of Wickets:
🔹 1-13 (Philip Salt, 1.4 ov)
🔹 2-43 (Jamie Smith, 5.2 ov)
🔹 3-201 (Joe Root, 30.6 ov)
🔹 4-219 (Harry Brook, 34.1 ov)
🔹 5-280 (Jos Buttler, 40.6 ov)
🔹 6-316 (Liam Livingstone, 46.4 ov)
🔹 7-322 (Ben Duckett, 47.2 ov)
🔹 8-338 (Brydon Carse, 49.2 ov)

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🎯 Australia Bowling

Bowler	O	M	R	W	ECO	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Spencer Johnson	7	0	54	0	7.71	21	8	1	0	1
Ben Dwarshuis	10	0	66	3	6.60	24	6	0	3	0
Nathan Ellis	10	0	51	0	5.10	24	3	0	3	0
Glenn Maxwell	7	0	58	1	8.28	9	3	3	0	0
Adam Zampa	10	0	64	2	6.40	26	6	1	1	1
Matthew Short	1	0	7	0	7.00	2	1	0	0	0
Marnus Labuschagne	5	0	41	2	8.20	5	1	2	0	0

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🏏 Australia Innings – 356/5 (47.3 Overs)

Batter	R	B	Mins	4s	6s	SR	Mode of Dismissal
Matthew Short	63	66	101	9	1	95.45	c & b Livingstone
Travis Head	6	5	16	1	0	120.00	c & b Archer
Steve Smith (c)	5	6	5	1	0	83.33	c Duckett b Wood
Marnus Labuschagne	47	45	65	5	0	104.44	c Buttler b Rashid
Josh Inglis (wk)	120*	86	134	8	6	139.53	not out
Alex Carey	69	63	85	8	0	109.52	c Buttler b Carse
Glenn Maxwell	32*	15	36	4	2	213.33	not out

🔹 Extras: 14 (b 4, lb 6, nb 1, w 3)
🔹 Total: 356/5 (47.3 Overs)

Fall of Wickets:
🔹 1-21 (Travis Head, 3.1 ov)
🔹 2-27 (Steven Smith, 4.1 ov)
🔹 3-122 (Marnus Labuschagne, 19.2 ov)
🔹 4-136 (Matthew Short, 22.2 ov)
🔹 5-282 (Alex Carey, 41.4 ov)

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🎯 England Bowling

Bowler	O	M	R	W	ECO	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Mark Wood	9.3	0	75	1	7.89	31	11	2	1	0
Jofra Archer	10	0	82	1	8.20	28	10	3	2	1
Brydon Carse	7	0	69	1	9.85	21	10	3	0	0
Adil Rashid	10	1	47	1	4.70	23	1	0	0	0
Liam Livingstone	7	0	47	1	6.71	16	3	1	0	0
Joe Root	4	0	26	0	6.50	6	1	0	0	0

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🏆 Match Info

Match: Australia vs England, 4th Match, Group B, ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Toss: Australia won the toss and opted to bowl

📋 Match Officials

👨‍⚖️ On-field Umpires: Ahsan Raza, Joel Wilson
📺 Third Umpire: Kumar Dharmasena
📝 Match Referee: Andy Pycroft

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Australia Squad

Playing XI: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

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England Squad

Playing XI: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood