Under the leadership of Steve Smith, Australia kicked off their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a thrilling five-wicket win over Jos Buttler’s England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 22.
In a high-scoring contest, Australia successfully chased down a massive target of 352—securing one of the greatest run-chases in ODI history. Opting to bowl first, Australia endured a tough outing as England’s batting lineup dominated. Ben Duckett led the charge with a magnificent century, punishing the Australian attack and guiding his team to a formidable total of 351/8. For Australia, Ben Dwarshuis was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne bagged two each. Glenn Maxwell chipped in with one. Australia’s chase got off to a shaky start, losing Travis Head and Steve Smith within the first five overs. However, Matthew Short (63) and Marnus Labuschagne (47) steadied the innings, shifting momentum towards the Aussies. The real game-changer came with Alex Carey (69) and Josh Inglis, who built a match-winning 146-run partnership that put England on the back foot. Inglis remained unbeaten on 120*, finishing the chase alongside Maxwell, as Australia pulled off a historic win with 15 balls to spare. Speaking after the game, Steve Smith praised his team’s performance but admitted disappointment over his and Travis Head’s early dismissals. “I thought the guys were outstanding from the outset. Short played well up top. Travis and I were the only ones to miss out, and the middle order did a fantastic job.” Smith also believed that England’s total was always within reach, given the conditions. “Regardless of what team we had, we would have bowled first. I thought the pitch slowed down towards the end of the first innings, and 350 was chaseable if we batted 50 overs. The boys did a good job with the ball, especially controlling the back end of the innings.” The Australian captain heaped praise on Inglis and Carey for their match-winning contributions. Former England captain Michael Atherton humorously asked Smith whether Inglis, who was born in Leeds, still held an English passport. Laughing, Smith replied, “You’ll have to ask him, but he’s not going anywhere.” This victory comes on the back of Australia’s recent 49-run win over England via the DLS method. In that match, Travis Head’s career-best spell (4/28) helped dismantle England’s lineup, restricting them to 309. Glenn Maxwell (2/49) and Adam Zampa (2/74) also played key roles. Chasing a rain-revised target of 117 in 20.4 overs, Australia made light work of the total. Matthew Short (58 off 30) set the tone with a blazing knock, while Head (31 off 26) and Inglis (28 off 20) ensured a comfortable win. With this win, Australia has started their Champions Trophy campaign on a strong note, sending a statement to the rest of the competition.