Inglis Shines with Unbeaten Century
Josh Inglis delivered what many are calling a career-defining performance, smashing an unbeaten 120 off just 86 balls to guide Australia to a thrilling five-wicket victory over England in this year's ICC Champions Trophy. This astonishing feat marked Australia's highest successful chase in a men's ICC tournament, surpassing their previous record of chasing 359 runs against India back in 2019.
While England's Ben Duckett also made headlines by setting a new tournament record with an impressive individual score of 165 off 143 balls, his efforts were overshadowed as Inglis took center stage with his destructive batting display.
The game wasn't without its challenges for Australia as they lost their stand-in captain, Steven Smith, early on. But partnerships between Matthew Short, who scored 63, and Marnus Labuschagne, with 41, revived Australia's innings. The duo of Inglis and Alex Carey, who added 69 runs, ensured that the chase was accelerated and completed in style.
Australia's Depleted Bowling Attack Holds Strong
Defensive strength was evident in Australia's depleted attack, which was missing big names like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. Even so, they managed to restrict England to a total of 351/8. Nathan Ellis stood out with a tight spell (1/51) amidst the high-scoring environment, while contributions from Labuschagne (2/41) and Adam Zampa (2/64) helped secure the match.
The dewy conditions proved to be a struggle for England's bowlers as they found it tough to hold back the Australian batsmen, particularly Inglis who capitalized by hitting 15 boundaries and two towering sixes.
This victory underlines the depth of Australia's batting lineup and reflects their resilience, even when some of their star bowlers were on the sidelines. On the flip side, England now face a pressing challenge, needing to secure victories in their upcoming matches against Afghanistan and South Africa to stay in contention.
The match wasn't just about Inglis' incredible knock. It also highlighted England's heavy reliance on Duckett's contribution, alongside Joe Root, who supported with a solid 68. Their 158-run partnership played a crucial role but ultimately wasn't enough to fend off a determined Australian side.
Feb, 28 2025