England vs Australia: Historic Knock Seals Champions Trophy Glory

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England vs Australia: Historic Knock Seals Champions Trophy Glory

February 22, 2025, A thrilling night at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Australia scripted history with a sensational five-wicket victory over England, successfully chasing down a mammoth target of 352. The win not only secured points in the ICC Champions Trophy but also etched Australia’s name in the record books for completing the highest-ever successful run chase in an ICC tournament.

A thrilling Champions Trophy 2025 showdown between cricketing heavyweights, England emerged victorious against Australia in a Group B encounter, thanks to a record-breaking innings by Ben Duckett and a fiery start from their pace attack.

Put in to bat, England found themselves in early trouble as Ben Dwarshius struck twice in the powerplay, removing Phil Salt and Jamie Smith with the help of some stunning grabs by Alex Carey. At 2 for 26, England needed stability, and Joe Root provided just that. The former captain played a composed knock of 68 off 78 balls, forging a crucial 158-run partnership with Duckett, before falling leg-before to Adam Zampa.

With wickets falling at regular intervals, England skipper Jos Buttler and Harry Brook couldn't make an impact, but Duckett held firm. The left-hander scripted history by smashing the first-ever 150+ score in Champions Trophy history, hammering 165 runs, laced with 11 fours and a six. His sensational innings powered England to a mammoth 351/8, the highest-ever total in the tournament’s history. A late cameo from Jofra Archer (21 off 10) provided the finishing touches.

Chasing 352, Australia’s hopes took an early blow as England’s pace duo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood removed Travis Head and Steve Smith cheaply. The absence of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc due to injuries was already a major setback for the Aussies, and their chase never quite recovered.

With England’s bowlers applying relentless pressure, wickets tumbled, and Australia’s chase fell apart. Despite some resistance in the middle order, they failed to mount a serious challenge, continuing their winless streak at the Champions Trophy since 2009.

England’s bowlers toiled hard but found little success against Australia’s relentless batting lineup. Brydon Carse managed to pick up one wicket but conceded 69 runs, while Jofra Archer struggled, finishing with figures of 1 for 82.

In response, Alex Carey played a vital supporting role, contributing 69 runs and forming a important partnership with Inglis that steered Australia towards victory. The duo’s calculated approach and fearless batting helped them dominate England’s bowling attack, keeping the required run rate within reach.

The contest was filled with twists and turns, but one of the defining moments came when Jofra Archer dropped a crucial catch that gave Carey a lifeline. Australia capitalized on the missed opportunity, and Inglis made England pay, racing to a century in just 77 balls. His acceleration in the latter half of the innings put England under immense pressure, ultimately sealing the win.

Match Summary

  • England: 351/8 (Ben Duckett 165, Joe Root 68)
  • Australia: 356/5 (Josh Inglis 120*, Alex Carey 69)

With this stunning chase, Australia not only secured an unforgettable win but also sent a strong message to the competition. England, despite their strong batting display led by Ben Duckett’s record-breaking 165, will need to regroup quickly to keep their tournament hopes alive.

Cricket fans witnessed a match for the ages, and as the tournament progresses, this historic run chase will surely be remembered as one of the greatest in ICC history.

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