Champions Trophy | Inglis helps Australia pull off record chase

Josh Inglis shines with maiden ODI century as Australia beats England in Champions Trophy with highest ODI chase.

Josh Inglis couldn’t have asked for a better start to the Champions Trophy as his maiden ODI century helped Australia get off to a flying start with a five-wicket win against England. This was also the highest successful run chase in men’s ICC ODI events.

Records tumbled at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday as Ben Duckett (165, 143b, 17x4, 3x6) registered the highest individual score in the history of the tournament to guide England to 351 for eight, before Inglis (120 n.o., 86b, 8x4, 6x6) came to Australia’s rescue.

Anticipating dew later in the evening, Steve Smith put the opposition in, and even though England batters toyed with the opposition bowlers early on, Australia had the last laugh.

With heavy dew settling in as the evening progressed, the England bowlers struggled to build on the pressure, allowing Inglis to forge a 146-run stand for the fifth wicket with Alex Carey. While Inglis played a flawless innings, Carey got a reprieve at 49 as Jofra Archer dropped a regulation catch.

That, eventually, proved to be the turning point of the game as Carey and Inglis took things in their stride, before Brydon Carse removed the former.

However, a calm Inglis partnered with the seasoned Glenn Maxwell, who chipped in with an unbeaten 15-ball-32 cameo to guide the team home. As a packed stadium chanted his name, Inglis sealed the deal with a six over deep mid-wicket off Mark Wood.

While it was a steady start by Australia with Matthew Short bringing up a fifty, things could have gone haywire for the side had Inglis and Carey not stepped up at a time when the team was suddenly struggling at 136 for four.