‘Absolutely crazy’: Aussie insanity as records fall at Champions Trophy

An unsung star has put England to the sword as Australia made history in a sensational start to the Champions Trophy.

Josh Inglis has smashed records as Australia made history with a classy win over England at the Champions Trophy on Sunday morning.

The wicketkeeper clubbed a maiden century to help Australia pull off the biggest chase in the history of the tournament, reaching England’s total of 8/351 with 15 balls remaining.

The 29-year-old Inglis, who was born in England, struck an unbeaten 86-ball 120 as the cornerstone in Australia’s five-wicket victory to open their Group B account at Gaddafi Stadium.

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The blistering performance from Inglis not only trumped England opener Ben Duckett’s 143-ball 165 — the highest individual score in event history — but enthralled a near-capacity 31,000 weekend crowd.

Inglis carted six sixes and eight boundaries, including the winning maximum off express fast bowler Mark Wood.

Inglis reached his century from 77 balls — the equal fastest in the tournament’s history.

Aussie legend Matthew Hayden said of Inglis: “That is absolutely crazy!”

The records kept tumbling with Australia’s bizarrely comfortable chase also the new benchmark for run chases in all ICC ODI tournaments held.

It was also Australia’s second highest run chase in ODI cricket. It was the 18th overall biggest run chase in ODI cricket, according to Wisden.

Australia's Josh Inglis celebrates after scoring a century. Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP.

Australia were struggling at 27-2 with Travis Head (six) and skipper Steve Smith (five) falling to Jofra Archer and Wood respectively.

Matthew Short, who hit a 66-ball 63 with nine boundaries and a six, added 95 for the third wicket with Marnus Labuschagne (47 off 45 balls with five fours) but spinners Liam Livingstone and Adil Rashid dismissed both.

With Australia still needing an imposing 215 in 27.4 overs, Alex Carey and Inglis brought the chase back on track by adding an invaluable 146 for the fifth wicket.

Carey, dropped on 49 by Archer off Rashid, finally holed out off pace bowler Brydon Carse after a fighting 63-ball 69 with 70 still needed.

Inglis brought up his hundred with two sixes off Carse and one against Archer, reaching the three-figure mark off 77 balls.

Glenn Maxwell played a trademark fiery knock of 32 not out from 15 balls with two sixes and four boundaries as Australia took 226 runs off England’s pace trio of Wood, Archer and Carse.

“We thought 350 was chaseable,” said Smith.

Josh Inglis of Australia celebrates his century. Photo by Sameer Ali/Getty Images.

“The two keepers (Inglis and Carey) have been batting beautifully. Josh played shots all round the ground.” Smith joked: “I don’t know if Josh still has an English passport, but he’s not going anywhere.”

England skipper Jos Buttler blamed the dew for his team’s struggles with the ball.

“A fantastic game, both sides played well, credit to Australia,” said Buttler.

“It was a fantastic innings from Inglis. 350 is a pretty good score, but it was wet and the dew was a worry.” Earlier, Duckett smashed his highest ODI score, and third century, as England built a commanding total after being sent in to bat on a flat pitch.

Duckett hit 17 fours and three sixes to better the previous best individual score of 145 in the Champions Trophy. New Zealand’s Nathan Astle (2004) and Zimbabwean Andy Flower (2002) had shared the record.

England also surpassed the previous highest innings tally in tournament history of 347-4 by New Zealand against the USA at The Oval in 2004.

Australia's Josh Inglis hit it to every corner. Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP.

Duckett added 158 for the third wicket with Joe Root, who made a measured 68 off 78 balls, to set the platform for a big total against a weakened Australian attack.

Missing star pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, Australia’s attack of Spencer Johnson, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis struggled to contain England.

Duckett was finally dismissed by part-time spinner Labuschagne in the 48th over, improving on his previous highest of 107 not out against Ireland at Bristol in 2023.

England adopted the same aggressive style of batting with opener Phil Salt dispatching a boundary and a six in the first over before falling to Dwarshuis in the second over for 10.

Dwarshuis also removed Jamie Smith for 15 before Duckett and Root stabilised the innings.

Harry Brook, on his 26th birthday, made three. Captain Jos Buttler (23) and Livingstone (14) also had brief stays before Archer delivered some late impetus with an unbeaten 21 off 10 balls.

Dwarshuis was the best Australian bowler with 3-66 while spinners Adam Zampa and Labuschagne took two wickets apiece.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan meet in a high-voltage Group A game in Dubai on Sunday.

Alex Carey drops jaws around the world

Alex Carey … WOW. Credit: Prime Video.

In only the second over of the contest a flick off the pads from opener Phil Salt flew towards mid-on where Alex Carey was waiting to pounce.

Australia’s normal wicketkeeper found himself in the field with Josh Inglis taking up the gloves, but it mattered little as he soared through the air.

Carey stuck his right hand out at full extension as he hauled in the screamer to send Salt on his way back to the sheds.

Fans watching on couldn’t quite believe what the usual keeper had just produced in the field.

One wrote on X: “Had to be him didn’t it? I can’t even be mad - that was outrageous.”

A second added: “Carey carry catch of the tournament.”

A third wrote: “Absolute screamer from Alex Carey. One of the catches in this tournament.”

Carey was back in the action in the fifth over, again off the bowling of Ben Dwarshuis, when Jamie Smith chipped one straight to him.

He wasn’t done there however as he put another stamp on the contest in the 34th over when he hauled in a catch to send the dangerous Harry Brook on his way.

— with AFP

Originally published as ‘Absolutely crazy’: Aussie insanity as records fall at Champions Trophy