Josh Inglis smashed a sensational unbeaten 120 off 86 balls as Australia pulled off the highest run chase in Champions Trophy history, defeating England by five wickets in Lahore on Saturday.
Chasing 352, Australia were reeling at 27/2 after early blows from Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, but Inglis turned the game on its head with a blistering knock, featuring six sixes and eight boundaries. His winning shot, a towering six off Wood, sealed victory in 47.3 overs.
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England’s Ben Duckett had earlier rewritten the record books with a stunning 165 off 143 balls — the highest individual score in tournament history — powering England to 351/8. He shared a crucial 158-run stand with Joe Root (68 off 78) to lay a solid foundation.
Australia’s chase saw valuable contributions from Matthew Short (63 off 66) and Marnus Labuschagne (47 off 45), while Alex Carey (69 off 63) partnered Inglis for a match-defining 146-run fifth-wicket stand. Glenn Maxwell’s quickfire 32 from 15 balls provided the finishing touches.
With this win, Australia moved to second in Group B behind South Africa, who secured a commanding 107-run win over Afghanistan earlier in the tournament. England, meanwhile, face a must-win clash against the Proteas to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
India vs Pakistan: The ultimate showdown in Dubai
All eyes now turn to Sunday’s blockbuster between arch-rivals India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium. The highly anticipated clash is the biggest fixture of the tournament so far, with a sell-out 25,000-strong crowd expected and millions more tuning in worldwide.
Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, find themselves under immense pressure after a 60-run loss to New Zealand in their opening game in Karachi. A defeat against India could all but end their semi-final hopes.
India, fresh off a six-wicket win over Bangladesh, are looking to maintain their perfect start. With New Zealand leading Group A on net run rate, an Indian victory would take them a step closer to the semi-finals.
With high stakes, history, and emotions running high, Sunday’s contest is set to be a spectacle that goes beyond just cricket.
