ISLAMABAD: Australia began their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign in impressive fashion, chasing the highest total in the tournament’s history to defeat England in a thrilling Group B encounter in Lahore.
In a game that will be remembered for its high-octane drama, Australia’s batsmen showed remarkable resilience to win the match over their arch-rivals.
Batting first, England made the most of the favourable conditions to pile on a total of 351/8. Ben Duckett did the most damage to the team, scoring a tournament-high 165 to put his team on the front foot early on.
In reply, Australia stumbled early in the chase, with Travis Head and Steve Smith falling cheaply. However, in true Australian style, the team faced immense pressure to launch a fearless counter-attack from Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, and Matt Short.
A thrilling final saw Australia chase down the target with just 15 balls to spare, setting the record for the most successful run chase in Champions Trophy history. With this emphatic victory, Australia gain early momentum in Group B, while England face a tough road to progress in the competition. The result puts England under pressure to stay in contention for the Champions Trophy knockout rounds against Afghanistan and South Africa, while Australia will have breathing room in their two remaining matches.
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | PT | NRR | Series Form | Next Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 2 | +2.140 | W | vs AUS, ENG |
| Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 2 | +0.475 | W | vs SA, AFG |
| England | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | 0 | -0.475 | L | vs AFG, SA |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | – | 0 | -2.140 | L | vs ENG, AUS |
With more action-packed fixtures ahead, Group B promises to be a fierce battle for the semi-final spots.
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