Australia Creates History vs England In Champions Trophy 2025; Becomes First Team To Do This

When Australia came into the Champions Trophy 2025 with a list of injuries, not many predicted them to start on a high with a thrilling victory in the opening clash against England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

It was the first side for the 2023 ODI World Champions to put on an ICC event playing with none of their three frontline pacers, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins, since the 2016 T20 World Cup when they took on Bangladesh.

Australia keeps a tight line and length against England’s struggling lower-order

Winning the toss, Australia’s captain, Steve Smith, decided to bowl first on a flat surface, expecting the dew to make an impact in the second innings. The openers didn’t waste much time to smash the ball out of the park, but the 2019 ODI World Cup champions kept on losing wickets in the powerplay.

Also Read: Ex-India Opener Ridicules Bangladesh’s Humiliating Defeat In Champions Trophy 2025

The 158-run stand for the third wicket between Joe Root and Ben Duckett shaped the first innings beautifully before Adam Zampa gave the Aussies a much-needed breakthrough to squeeze up the runs. Harry Brook failed for just three runs.

Butler and Livingstone failed to provide them the much-needed finish towards the death overs, as the opponent bowlers kept the sticky line and length with the change of pace to make it harder for England to get the final touch towards the end. Jofra Archer nailed an unbeaten 21 runs in 10 deliveries to carry them to 351/8 in their allotted 50 overs.

Duckett, the left-handed opening batter, finished with 165 runs in 143 deliveries, shouldering on 17 boundaries and three sixes, but they struggled badly in the lower middle order and never got the final touch in the death overs.

Josh Inglis helps Australia to create this history in the Champions Trophy

No matter how easy the surface and the condition were, chasing anything over 350 in an ICC event is a tough ask. Losing Travis Head and Captain Smith made it difficult for Australia. Matthew Short, who cracked 63 runs in 66 deliveries, put up a 95-run stand for the third wicket with Marnus Labuschagne.

But the turning point of the contest was the match-winning 146-run partnership between wicket-keeper Josh Inglis and Alex Carey for the fifth wicket. The former smashed a fine unbeaten 120-run knock in just 86 balls at a strike rate of around 140, thanks to eight boundaries and six over boundaries, while Carey drilled 69 runs in 63 balls.

England went with the short-ball plan against Glenn Maxwell. But the latter was prepared for the field set and smacked unbeaten 32 runs in just 15 balls, with the help of four boundaries and two sixes at a strike rate of over 200.

Also Read: Pakistan’s Head Coach Brutally Warns India Ahead Of Champions Trophy 2025 Clash

Australia now becomes the first side in history to complete a successful run chase of more than 350 runs in an ICC tournament, going past Pakistan’s 345 in Hyderabad against Sri Lanka in the 2023 ODI World Cup. It’s also the biggest successful chase in the Champions Trophy, overtaking Sri Lanka’s 322 against India in 2017.

Australia takes a huge step towards semifinal qualification

South Africa started with a victory against Afghanistan from the same group, and now Australia’s win over England keeps them ahead for the semifinal qualification. The Steve Smith-led side will now face South Africa in Rawalpindi on February 25. A win for any of the two sides will take them through to the semifinal.

England will lock horns with Afghanistan in a do-or-die clash on February 26 at the Gaddafi Stadium. A defeat for any of the sides will be the end of the campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025.