By Naveen Abeyratne in Lahore
Australia achieved the highest successful chase in the Champions Trophy history to defeat England by five wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore today. Thanks to a magnificent 120 not out and a sparkling 32 not out by Glenn Maxwell, Australia reached the target of 352 with 15 balls to spare.
Above all, this match could be the best advertisement for One Day Cricket as 707 runs scored in less than 100 overs.
England, being sent into bat, scored a mammoth 351 for 8 powered by a superb century from Ben Duckett. Yet it was not enough for them to keep Australia away.
Aussies kept the scoring rate at a reasonable high level despite losing two early wickets. When Alex Carey and Josh Inglis got together, they meant business. The fifth wicket pair added 146 runs in 19.2 overs to push Australia at 265 for 4 by the end of 40th over. Men from down under needed 87 off 60 balls in the death but in a T20 world, it’s no magic.
Josh Inglis kept his nerve and determined not to throw his wicket until Australia get home.
Josh was born in Yorkshire, England. His parents left for Australia in his small days and his father is a cricket fanatic. He wanted his son to represent Australia and dropped his anchor in Perth. Josh made all his three international debuts against Sri Lanka and his ODI debut was in Colombo two years ago. The stylish wicket keeper hammered 8 fours and 6 sixes in his 86 ball knock. Inglis was well supported by Maxwell who hit couple of towering sixes and another four hits pass the rope.
Maxwell was caught at deep mid wicket off a full toss from Jofra Archer but the ball was called a No Ball. Maxwell hammered yet another six off the ‘free’ ball to get closer the target. Fittingly, Josh Inglis ended the contest by sending one of Mark Wood delivery over the mid wicket for six.
Ben Duckett registered the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history to guide England to a safe area in the match against Australia today. The old rivals met at the Gaddafi stadium, Lahore, where England scored 351 for eight wickets in the allotted 50 overs.
The old master, Jo Root and and Duckett put a 158 runs partnership after the second wicket fallen for 43 runs inside six overs. The third wicket pair put 200 runs on the board before being separated in the 31st over. Duckett took control from there onwards and added 151 runs in 19 overs, with late middle order batters, while hitting 20 boundaries. His 143 ball innings contained 17 fours and three sixes.
The Lahore wicket was an absolute belter. For some reason, Australia won the toss but elected to bowl first. Smith’s decision to field first proved worth by the sixth over when Phil Salt (10) and Jamie Smith (15) were back in the pavilion for 43 runs.
Alex Carey usually dons the gloves behind stumps for Australia across all three formats of the game, today decided to take the field, handing over the gloves to Josh Inglis. Carey was covering the mid wicket region. Jamie Smith attempted to clear the infield over mid on but Carey flung himself to the right hand side and grabbed a stunner to give Ben Dwarshuis second wicket.
Yet, England’s most experienced batsman, Joe Root played the second fiddle while letting the left handed Duckett to go after bowling. Root, playing in his 175th One Day International, scored his 41st fifty today, including only four boundaries.
Joe Root and Harry Brooke both departed within 18 runs before Duckett took the total control of the game.
Duckett was ably supported by skipper Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone and Jofra Archer. Even without big numbers against their names, collectively they added 58 runs off 48 balls to keep Australian bowlers under pressure.
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