Australia is in a commanding position in their opening ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match against England, chasing a record total of 351 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Despite missing key players, the Australian team has shown resilience, making the chase look surprisingly comfortable. Alex Carey and Josh Inglis have steadied the innings after early setbacks, with Carey bringing up his half-century in a crucial moment.
In the chase, Australia lost a couple of early wickets but managed to stabilize and stay in contention. Despite being four wickets down, they remain in the hunt, with Inglis and Carey building a crucial partnership.
Earlier, Ben Duckett’s sensational 165 powered England to a massive total of 351. Batting at a strike rate of 115.38, Duckett hammered three sixes and 17 fours in his innings. He, along with Joe Root, rescued England after a slow start, stitching together a vital 158-run stand for the third wicket. Root contributed a crucial 68 off 78 balls. Towards the end, Jofra Archer’s quickfire 21 off just 10 balls gave England the final push to breach the 350-run mark.
For Australia, Ben Dwarshuis led the bowling attack with three wickets, while Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne chipped in with two wickets each. With a daunting target ahead, Australia will need a strong finish to pull off the chase.
Earlier, Ben Duckett played a magnificent knock of 165 off 143 balls, guiding England to a formidable total of 351/8 after being invited to bat first. In the process, he became the first-ever batter to reach the 150-run milestone in a Champions Trophy match. The left-hander also eclipsed Nathan Astle and Andy Flower’s previous record of 145, registering the highest individual score in the tournament’s history.
England, too, etched their name in the record books by becoming the first team to surpass the 350-run mark in Champions Trophy history. For Australia, Ben Dwarshuis was the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 3 for 66.
Carey’s innings took a significant turn when Jofra Archer dropped a straightforward catch at deep mid-wicket off Adil Rashid’s bowling. The missed opportunity allowed Carey to reach his fifty and maintain Australia’s momentum. With 90 runs needed off 65 balls, Australia is firmly in control, with Glenn Maxwell yet to bat.
Adil Rashid, who has been economical so far, will have a major role in the final phase of the innings, as England looks to break the growing partnership between Carey and Inglis. Archer, after his crucial drop, has one more over left to make a difference in the game. With Maxwell still to come, England will need something special to turn the match in their favor.
With both teams having their moments, the game remains finely balanced, but as things stand, Australia appears to be on course for a famous chase, proving that even without their key pacers, they remain a formidable force in ICC tournaments.