Inglis rules English in record chase
Josh Inglis celebrates his century
The 29-year-old, originally from England, guided Australia to chase down a daunting target of 352 with 15 balls to spare, finishing at 351-8 in 47.3 overs.
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Inglis' fireworks overshadowed England opener Ben Duckett's record-breaking 165 off 143 balls—the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history—in front of a nearly packed crowd of 31,000. Inglis struck six sixes and eight fours, sealing the win with a towering maximum off speedster Mark Wood.
Australia's chase began shakily at 27-2, with Travis Head (6) and captain Steve Smith (5) falling early to Jofra Archer and Wood, respectively. Matthew Short contributed a vital 63 off 66 balls, featuring nine boundaries and a six, putting on a 95-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne (47 off 45 balls). However, spinners Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid broke through to leave Australia needing 215 from 27.4 overs.
Inglis, alongside Alex Carey, revived the innings with a crucial 146-run stand for the fifth wicket. Carey, who had a life on 49 when Archer dropped him off Rashid, eventually fell for a solid 69 off 63 balls to Brydon Carse, leaving Australia 70 runs short of victory.
Inglis reached his century in style, hammering two sixes off Carse and another off Archer, achieving the milestone in just 77 balls. Glenn Maxwell added the finishing touch with a rapid 32* from 15 deliveries, including two sixes and four fours. The English pace attack of Wood, Archer, and Carse was dismantled, conceding 226 runs.
Earlier, Duckett had powered England to a formidable total of 351-8. His knock, featuring 17 boundaries and three sixes, broke the previous Champions Trophy record of 145, jointly held by New Zealand’s Nathan Astle (2004) and Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower (2002).
Duckett and Joe Root (68 off 78 balls) formed a pivotal 158-run partnership for the third wicket, setting a strong platform against an Australian bowling attack missing Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
Despite the absence of their frontline pacers, Australia's Ben Dwarshuis impressed with figures of 3-66, while spinners Adam Zampa and Labuschagne each claimed two wickets.
Phil Salt gave England a brisk start, hitting a boundary and a six in the first over before falling for 10. Dwarshuis also removed Jamie Smith (15), but Duckett and Root steadied the innings.
Harry Brook, celebrating his 26th birthday, managed only three runs, while captain Jos Buttler (23) and Livingstone (14) couldn't capitalize on their starts. Archer added a quickfire 21* off 10 balls to push England past 350.
Despite England's record-breaking total, Inglis' exceptional innings ensured Australia opened their Champions Trophy campaign with a memorable win.
