Watch cricket video highlights of Champion’s Trophy 2025 fourth Match 2025. Between Australia and England. Venue of the match will be Lahore.
1st Innings
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2nd Innings
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Report
Ben Duckett displayed the ruthless quality that England needed with a record-setting score of 165. However, despite his efforts, Josh Inglis answered back by aggressively attacking a lackluster England pace attack, leading Australia to achieve the highest successful chase in men’s ICC tournament history. This marked the first ICC event match held in Lahore since March 1996, with batting clearly dominating this Champions Trophy showdown, leaving very little room for the bowlers on such a flat pitch.
Through a combination of clever shots and powerful backfoot strikes, Inglis reached his first ODI century, finishing not out on 120 off 86 deliveries as Australia chased down the 352-run target with relative comfort in the 48th over. England’s bowlers were challenged by the dew under the lights, allowing Australia to secure their second-largest successful ODI chase, following their 359 for 6 against India in Mohali in 2019. England faced a disheartening outcome, now facing must-win scenarios against Afghanistan and South Africa.
They will regret coming up just short with the bat, despite Duckett’s remarkable 165 off 143 being the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history. He was well supported by Joe Root, who contributed a solid 68 in a third-wicket partnership of 158. Although no other batter exceeded 25 runs, England still achieved the highest total ever recorded in the tournament, capitalizing on an inexperienced Australian bowling attack at an ICC ODI event since 1983.
They were missing their main fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, as well as seam-bowling allrounders Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis. Nevertheless, the result was not guaranteed on this flat surface, as Australia had a strong batting lineup. Their innings mirrored England’s, losing two early wickets when Travis Head and stand-in captain Steven Smith fell during the powerplay. Head, who had an unforgettable century in his last appearance at a 50-over ICC event, was seen as a critical player but was dismissed for just 6 when Jofra Archer took a sharp return catch off his mis-hit.
Smith could only edge one to slip off a hard-length delivery from speedster Mark Wood, who looked sharp and consistently clocked speeds of 150 kph. However, Matthew Short and Marnus Labuschagne countered with a 95-run partnership as they capitalized on the wayward bowling of Brydon Carse. Short, overcoming a poor run of form, skillfully utilized the pace of England’s bowlers, but legspinner Adil Rashid bowled brilliantly alongside Liam Livingstone, putting pressure on the batters.
Labuschagne, frustrated, hit a slow 70 kph legbreak from Rashid straight to cover, while Short, on 63, offered a return catch to Livingstone, leaving Australia at 136 for 4. However, Rashid was taken out of the attack after his six-over spell, enabling Inglis and Alex Carey to settle in. The duo displayed impressive form, each having scored aggressive Test centuries against Sri Lanka, as they took control over a struggling England bowling side. Carey awkwardly celebrated his half-century after hitting Rashid to deep midwicket, only for Archer to let a simple catch slip through his fingers. Inglis then launched Archer for back-to-back boundaries as England’s situation began to worsen.
Just as Australia appeared to seize control, Carey was dismissed by Carse, hitting straight to mid-off with 70 runs still needed from 50 balls. Nonetheless, Inglis remained unfazed, smashing a six off Archer to stylishly reach his century. Glenn Maxwell was in unstoppable form, and Inglis fittingly finished off the match with a six, securing a fantastic victory for World Cup champions Australia, whose tournament title prospects had largely been dismissed beforehand.
Smith chose to bowl after being convinced that dew would impact the game under lights, as Australia took to the field at an ICC event for the first time in nine years without their top three fast bowlers. Australia’s notably diminished attack faced immediate challenges on a pitch that favored batting. Though Starc was absent, Australia still featured aggressive left-arm pacers Spencer Johnson, whose signature golden locks had been cut short, and Ben Dwarshuis with the new ball.
Dwarshuis was preferred over Sean Abbott, who had participated in both of Australia’s ODI matches in Sri Lanka, due to specific match-up considerations, even though his two early wickets resulted mostly from poor shot selection. England’s rearranged batting order did not perform as planned from the outset. Continuing a common issue, they attacked too aggressively early on, with Phil Salt dismissed in the second over after misplaying a shot to the on-side, allowing Carey to make an incredible one-handed catch to his right.
This remarkable catch marked Carey’s first ODI catch as an outfielder and supported the decision for Inglis, the regular white-ball wicketkeeper, to keep the gloves. Jamie Smith was in the spotlight, batting at No. 3 for the first time in international cricket — and only the second time in his List A career — prompting Root, Harry Brook, and Jos Buttler to drop down from their usual batting positions. Smith played a couple of beautiful cover drives before falling softly to the on-side, where Carey made an easier catch this time.
England did not anticipate being at 43 for 2, but they quickly bounced back as Duckett and Root capitalized on wayward bowling from Johnson and Dwarshuis. Duckett began somewhat slowly but smashed a boundary off the final ball of the powerplay, bringing England to 73 for 2. Smith turned to spin after the powerplay restrictions lifted, but there was minimal turn as Duckett and Root effortlessly rotated the strike. Smith took a conservative approach with his strategies, employing four fielders on the boundary.
Duckett displayed his enhanced ability to hit down the ground by targeting Maxwell in the straight area and stylishly reached his half-century with a horizontal bat shot off Johnson. Root made batting appear simple, avoiding risky boundary-hitting while cleverly finding gaps to register his half-century off 56 balls. He had a golden opportunity to break a lengthy ODI century drought dating back to the 2019 World Cup as England aimed for a total in the high 300s.
However, Root found himself restricted by legspinner Adam Zampa, who was enjoying a strong spell, and he fell lbw to a rare sweep attempt after a failed review. Australia made a comeback through Zampa, whose discreet variations were successful, leading to Brook’s dismissal, with Carey taking another fantastic catch after a diving effort while running backward at point. Seamer Nathan Ellis also demonstrated his strong defensive abilities, allowing only 51 runs in his full 10 overs — the only bowler to finish with an economy rate under six.
England worried about squandering a strong position as they had against Australia at Trent Bridge the previous September. Yet, Duckett steadied the innings, striking back-to-back boundaries off Johnson to achieve his third ODI century. He celebrated by punching the air but maintained his focus despite being clearly tired. Duckett’s outstanding innings concluded in the 48th over when he was trapped lbw by Labuschagne’s legspin, who was chosen over Johnson for the final overs and finished with figures of 2 for 41 off five overs. Archer delivered a series of strong performances towards the end, but his spirits dampened as the night wore on.
