Australia complete record-breaking run chase

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP):

JOSH INGLIS marshalled two-time champion Australia’s record-breaking run chase at the Champions Trophy with a 77-ball century to hand England a five-wicket defeat yesterday.

Inglis finished with an unbeaten 120 off 86 balls for a maiden ODI hundred that included eight fours and six sixes as Australia cruised to 356-5 in 47.3 overs. It was the highest-ever successful run chase in all ICC ODI tournaments.

Inglis’ terrific power-hitting eclipsed Ben Duckett’s 165, which was the highest-ever individual knock in the history of Champions Trophy, and had anchored England to a score of 351-8 in their Group B opener.

“Over the moon,” said Inglis, who was born and raised in Leeds before his family moved to Australia when he was 14.

“Not too much talk at half-time, (but) knew it would be tough (for England) with the dew.”

Australia’s chase got off to a rocky start as Jofra Archer and Mark Wood removed Travis Head (6) and captain Steven Smith (5) in successive overs before the Australian middle-order batters countercharged the fast bowlers.

Matthew Short (63) and Marnus Labuschagne (47) combined in a 95-run stand with fast bowler Brydon Carse going for well over nine runs an over in his four-over spell before England put in spinners in the middle overs.

Adil Rashid denied Labuschagne a half-century when Jos Buttler held on to a sharp catch at short cover, and then Liam Livingstone took a smart low return catch to dismiss Short as Australia slipped to 136-4.

However, with dew setting in, Inglis and Alex Carey (69) masterminded the run chase perfectly as it became difficult for the bowlers to handle the wet ball. The two batters shared a 146-run stand off 116 balls, but England missed an opportunity when Australia still needed 104 for victory.

“The two keepers have been batting beautifully (and are) in great form,” Australia captain Steven Smith said. “Josh didn’t get out of second gear, shots all round the ground. I don’t know if Josh still has an English passport, but he’s not going anywhere!”

MISSED CATCH

Archer missed a regulation catch off Carey in the outfield in Rashid’s penultimate over before he completed his half-century and Inglis smashed Archer for two boundaries in the next over.

Carey was finally dismissed when he drove to Buttler at mid-off in Carse’s return spell, but Glenn Maxwell finished on 32 not out off 15 balls and Inglis, who raised his century with a pulled six off Archer, sealed the win in similar fashion with another six off Wood at mid-wicket.

“A fantastic game,” Buttler said. “Fantastic innings from Inglis.”

Duckett became the first batter in the history of Champions Trophy to score more than 150 runs after Smith won the toss and elected to field on a flat wicket.

Duckett smashed his 165 off 143 balls with 17 fours and three sixes as the Australian second-string pace attack struggled on a wicket devoid of grass at a newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

New Zealand batter Nathan Astle held the previous record after he amassed an unbeaten 145 against the United States at the Oval in 2004. The Black Caps’ 347-4 in the same game was the previous highest team total of the tournament.

Duckett laid a solid foundation for England’s strong finish when he combined in a 158-run stand with Joe Root, who made 68 off 78 balls.