Australia defeat England in record-breaking ICC Champions Trophy 2025 group-stage clash

Australia moved into a strong position in Group B of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 after defeating England in a landmark group-stage match at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on February 22. The contest produced multiple tournament records, including the highest successful run chase in ICC ODI event history, as Australia overhauled England's massive total with five wickets in hand and 15 balls to spare. Batting first after Steve Smith won the toss and elected to field, England posted an imposing 351 for 8 from their 50 overs. The innings was anchored by Ben Duckett, who scored 165 off 143 balls with 17 fours and three sixes, registering the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history. Joe Root contributed a composed 68 off 78 deliveries, combining with Duckett in a 158-run partnership that formed the backbone of England's total. Australia's second-string pace attack, missing frontline quicks Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, conceded runs throughout but struck important blows. Ben Dwarshuis took 3 for 66, including two early wickets, while Adam Zampa claimed 2 for 64 as England's middle order failed to capitalise on the platform laid by Duckett and Root. In response, Australia lost Travis Head and Steve Smith cheaply to Jofra Archer and Mark Wood respectively, reducing them to 27 for 2. Matthew Short and Marnus Labuschagne steadied the innings with a 95-run partnership before both fell to leave Australia at 136 for 4, still requiring 216 runs. Josh Inglis transformed the contest with a maiden ODI century. The wicketkeeper-batter reached his hundred off 77 balls, equalling Virender Sehwag's record for the fastest century in Champions Trophy history set in 2002. His unbeaten 120 from 86 balls, featuring eight fours and six sixes, combined with Alex Carey's crucial 69 in a 146-run fifth-wicket partnership. Glenn Maxwell's quickfire 32 not out sealed the victory as Australia reached 356 for 5 in 47.3 overs, completing the highest successful chase in any ICC ODI tournament. The result gave Australia two points, placing them alongside South Africa at the top of Group B, with the Proteas leading on net run rate after their earlier victory over Afghanistan. For England, the defeat left them without points despite the record-breaking batting display.