Australia has made history by achieving the highest successful chase ever recorded in the ICC Men's ODI tournaments, surpassing the formidable target of 352 runs set by England during the 2025 Champions Trophy. The thrilling encounter was held at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, where wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis emerged as the star of the show by scoring his maiden ODI century, finishing with 120 runs off just 86 deliveries.
England had initially set the stage for what many thought could be an insurmountable task. With Ben Duckett smashing a remarkable 165 runs, England posted a total of 351/8. Duckett’s performance is now noted as the highest individual score ever recorded in the Champions Trophy, showcasing his prowess at the crease. Nonetheless, Australia’s batting resilience shone through, particularly as they sought to chase down this monumental score.
Despite early setbacks, including the dismissals of Travis Head and Steve Smith by England's pace attack, Australia regrouped. At 136/4, the situation looked bleak, but the partnership between Inglis and Alex Carey proved to be the difference-maker. They forged a decisive fifth-wicket partnership of 146 runs off 116 balls, expertly rotating the strike and pushing the boundary whenever needed. Carey himself contributed 69 runs before being dismissed, but his work alongside Inglis set the foundation for Australia's incredible run chase.
Reflecting on the match, Inglis noted, "Over the moon, great win. 350, a lot of things have got to go right to chase it down. It was a great performance." He continued to explain how the conditions at Gaddafi Stadium favored their batting strategy, emphasizing, "It was always going to be...better batting second." This insight proved pivotal, as the dew on the ground helped the batsmen significantly during the second innings.
Once the partnership was broken with Carey’s exit, Glenn Maxwell entered the fray. He provided solid support for Inglis, contributing 32 runs without getting out. Inglis punctuated the victory with style, hitting multiple sixes, including one off Mark Wood to seal the match with five balls and five wickets to spare—a remarkable achievement filled with excitement!
Australian captain Steve Smith praised the efforts of his team post-match. Despite his and Head's lackluster performances, he stated, "The guys were outstanding, Matt Short played beautifully, and Travis and I were the only two to miss out." This encapsulated the depth of the Australian side, with contributions across the board significantly aiding their historic chase.
Smith expressed confidence heading out for the innings, noting, "We would have bowled first regardless, giving how wet it got during our training session...350 was chaseable." His endorsement of the team's potential was spot on, as they approached the target with poise and precision. Smith also lauded the strategic tactics employed by both bowlers and batsmen alike during the run chase, highlighting how they managed their bowling to restrict England’s scoring capabilities at the end of their innings.
On the other hand, England’s skipper, Jos Buttler, couldn't help but rue the loss, acknowledging Duckett's prowess: "A fantastic game, both sides played well, credit to Australia, fantastic innings from Inglis. 350 is a pretty good score, but the dew was certainly a worry." This reflection highlights the competitive nature of the match and England's strong showing, even as they fell short of victory.
With this impressive victory, Australia not only secured their place within the tournament but has also firmly established themselves as formidable contenders. Their capability to assemble runs rapidly under pressure reflects both their experience and determination, qualities synonymous with Australian cricket throughout history.
Australia now holds the record for the highest successful chase in the history of ICC Men's ODI tournaments and this win certainly bolsters their confidence going forward. They aim to maintain momentum as they advance through the competition, proving once again the depth and versatility of their batting lineup.