Ben Duckett dazzled with the bat, leading England to a compelling victory over Australia during their ICC Champions Trophy match held at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday. Duckett's phenomenal score of 165 off 143 balls not only established him as the first batsman to score over 150 runs in the tournament's history but also propelled England to the highest-ever total recorded at the Champions Trophy, finishing at 351-8.
England's innings began somewhat shakily, with opener Phil Salt dismissed for just 10 runs, caught impressively by Alex Carey off the bowling of Ben Dwarshuis. Jamie Smith followed soon after, leaving England wobbly at 43/2 within the first six overs. Fortunately for the England camp, Duckett found his rhythm, engaging in a stunning 158-run partnership with Joe Root, who contributed 68 runs off 78 balls. This partnership was pivotal as England built their innings steadily, showcasing aggressive batting and brilliant shot selection.
Duckett's record-breaking innings included 17 boundaries and 3 sixes, establishing him as the new record holder for the highest individual score at the Champions Trophy, surpassing the previous record of 145 held by New Zealand's Nathan Astle. His century came off 95 balls and was marked by two consecutive boundaries off the hapless Spencer Johnson, who finished his spell conceding 54 runs off seven overs.
Australia's bowling line-up, lacking the experience of key pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, struggled throughout the innings. Ben Dwarshuis was the standout for Australia, capturing three wickets for 66 runs but faced constant onslaught from Duckett and Root. Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne managed to pick two wickets each, but they, too, could not restrict England’s scoring rate.
Following Duckett's dismissal by Labuschagne, England continued to push their score. Jofra Archer provided some late fireworks, smashing 21 runs off just 10 balls, helping England reach the unprecedented total of 351. The innings concluded with the home crowd witnessing shadows of what was to come for Australia.
Chasing down 352, Australia was put to the test right from the start. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, they aimed to counterattack. Mathew Short, who had anchored the innings with 63 runs, battled against England's disciplined bowling attack. Nonetheless, dismissals began to pile up; notable wickets included Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head.
Australia's innings saw them reaching 318-6 at one stage, with Josh Inglis also contributing significantly to the chase by completing his century (106 runs). But with Glenn Maxwell entering the fray at No. 7, Australia faced pressure as they needed 34 runs from the final 30 balls.
While Australia demonstrated resilience, England's bowlers, particularly Adil Rashid, maintained control with superb spells throughout the innings. Rashid finished his 10 overs with figures of 1 for 45, creating consistent pressure. The English fielding unit also showed sharpness, highlighted by spectacular catches from Brook and Carey, reinforcing their dominance on the field.
Despite Australia’s spirited effort, they could not withstand England’s total, falling short and concluding their innings at 334 runs, earning England their victory by 17 runs. Duckett's performance was undoubtedly the highlight, and it set the tone for England's campaign as they look forward to their upcoming matches.
This game not only marked another high for England but also showcased the potential intensity of this Champions Trophy, as they managed to overcome one of their fiercest rivals, reinforcing their position as contenders for the title.