Leeds-born Inglis leads Australia to victory over England

ICC Champions Trophy Group B, Lahore

England 351-8 (50 overs): Duckett 165, Root 68, Dwarshuis 3-66

Australia 356-5 (47.3 overs): Inglis 120*, Carey 69, Rashid 1-47

Australia won by five wickets

England’s Champions Trophy bid began with a damaging defeat as Australia pulled off an epic chase of 352 to counter Ben Duckett’s 165 in Lahore.

With five wickets and 15 balls to spare, opener Duckett completed the chase with a sensational 120 not out from 86 balls, which is the highest score in Champions Trophy history.

It was the highest score England have failed to defend in one-day internationals, made worse by the fact they had their old rivals 136-4 at one stage.

From there Inglis, Australia’s number five born and raised in Yorkshire, put on 146 in 116 balls with Alex Carey to drag his side back into the contest.

Carey, having been dropped on 49, was caught for 69 with 70 runs needed from 51 balls and Inglis took charge.

His third ODI century came in 77 balls with a six-season strike, which secured the team’s highest successful chase in a 50-over international competition.

It heightened concerns that England, who were 200-2 after 30 overs on a fine batting pitch, which had only improved under the lights, failed to fully exploit it.

This will feel like a body blow if England’s confidence was low given their form in the tournament (four series defeats in a row and losses in ten of their previous 14 ODIs).

Many have criticized Duckett for his responsible play, but Inglis punished them for allowing an even higher score.

While the arrival of a dew under the lights made batting easier, England did not help themselves.

Brydon Carse was hit for 69 in seven overs, exposing England’s limited bowling options, and Jofra Archer dropped a simple catch to dismiss Carey.

At that point 104 runs were needed from 73 balls, the match still in the balance, but Archer’s error was compounded when he took the next over and was hit for consecutive fours.

The England quick also had Glenn Maxwell, who had ended up 32 not out of 15, caught late only for the decision to have the run-ahead overturned due to a waist-high no-ball, but by that point the game was over with 11 runs needed.

Inglis, who scored a century on Test debut against Sri Lanka last month, lived in Yorkshire until just shy of his 15th birthday.

He had already ruled England, so he had little sympathy for the nation he once called home.

After their 95-year partnership, Archer dismissed Travis Head who was caught and bowled for two, Mark Wood who nicked off Steve Smith for five, and spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone who dismissed Matthew Short and Matthew Short, respectively.

When Livingstone delivered Inglis for 29 yards, England came closest to sacking him. His 29 was a close call with the bat and pad.

Duckett’s knock should not be overlooked. It was England’s highest in any global 50-over event – World Cup or Champions Trophy, beating Andrew Strauss ‘ 158 against India in 2011.

After Carey brilliantly caught Phil Salt diving one-handed in mid-on and took a simpler catch in the same position after a chip from England’s new number three Jamie Smith, the team looked to have an offensive lead, they were 53-2 in the sixth over.

Duckett finished his sweeps and trimmed the risks in the end. The lowest percentage of his shots in his ODI career were attacking at the time he reached 50, or 31%, which was the lowest percentage ever at that point.

A 158-strong partnership with Root, who was similarly composed and on par with his 68, established a platform and protected England from early danger.

When Root was lbw to Adam Zampa, Harry Brook cut the leg-spinner for a three-wicket partnership, and Jos Buttler, England’s captain, slogged deep midwicket for 23. Duckett headed in to make sure the innings didn’t fall apart.

He hit the spinners straight and the quick with cuts and pulls, finished with 95 balls, had his first reverse sweep, and had cramp when Labuschagne dismissed him on the sweep in the 48th over.

” Really pumped on a personal level, but for the guys out there it’s a great performance. This gives us a lot of confidence in a short sharp tournament. “

England captain Jos Buttler:” Ben Duckett played brilliantly. He has been making threats to do that for a while. It’s a shame that it was a losing cause, but I’m happy for him.

Steve Smith, Australia’s captain, said, “At one point, it seemed like they were going to get 400. We were able to limit them.”