The latest ODI World Cup winners Australia have shown their true caliber without prime bowlers as they stunned England in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener, which produced a high-scoring multiple record-breaking match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. 

Australian captain Steven Smith chose to field first after winning the toss as they expected dew in the second innings. It proved to be true as England scored the record-breaking total in tournament history with 351/8, and Australia comfortably chased down the target in 47.3 overs after losing five wickets to set a new highest total record (356/5) in ICC Champions Trophy history.  

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Ben Duckett recorded highest score in ICC Champions Trophy

Opener Ben Duckett had an important role in England's innings to set a record target for Australia. Although Duckett was busy scoring quickly in the powerplay, his opening partner Phil Salt (10) fell early. England's testing with Jamie Smith (15) didn't work well, as the youngster only faced 13 balls.

Duckett and Joe Root built the English innings and guided the team to a big total. They had a 158-run partnership for the third wicket. While Duckett scored 50 runs off 49 balls, Root completed his half-century in 56 balls. Adam Zampa broke that partnership after dismissing Root for 68 off 78 balls (four fours).

While Harry Brook (3) fell early, captain Jos Buttler (23) and Liam Livingstone (14) couldn't add big runs. However, Duckett had a valuable 61-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Buttler, where the opener dominated. Duckett completed his third ODI century in 95 balls. Later, the opener added more power to record the highest individual score in tournament history by becoming the first player to score 150 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy. He completed 150 runs in 134 balls and scored 165 off 143 balls with 17 fours and three sixes before Marnus Labuschagne dismissed him in the 48th over. 

Jofra Archer scored 21 not out off just 10 balls to ensure a record total in the ICC Champions Trophy as England became the first team to score 350+ runs in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Among the Aussie bowlers, Ben Dwarshuis took three wickets (3/66), while Adam Zampa (2/64) and Marnus Labuschagne (2/41) got two wickets each. 

Josh Inglis recorded joint-fastest century in ICC Champions Trophy to record highest chase in tournament

Chasing down the giant target, Australia lost their opener Travis Head (6) and skipper Steven Smith (5) cheaply, which made the chasing almost impossible for them in the early look. However, another opener Matthew Short controlled the situation with Marnus Labuschagne. They had a 95-run partnership for the third wicket before Labuschagne (47 off 45 balls) and Short (63 off 66 balls) lost their wickets in quick succession. 

While Australia were once again in a tough situation in the record chase, English bowlers then struggled to handle the dew effect. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis and Alex Carey slammed a solid 146-run partnership for the fifth wicket that destroyed English hope. Inglis reached 50 runs in 41 balls, and Carey completed his half-century in 49 balls. Although Brydon Carse dismissed Carey for 69 off 63 balls (eight fours), Inglis' spirit was unharmed, and he got another strong support from Glenn Maxwell. 

In less than six overs, Inglis and Maxwell set a 74-run partnership for the unbroken sixth wicket. Inglis equalled the fastest century record in ICC Champions Trophy history by completing it in 77 balls. The English bowlers had no answer in the tough bowling conditions, where the Aussie middle-order batters had no mercy. 

Player of the Match Inglis scored 120 not out off 86 balls with eight fours and six sixes. Meanwhile, Maxwell was not out for 32 runs in 15 balls with four fours and two sixes. Five out of six English bowlers managed to pick a wicket, but none of them added any others to the tally.