‘He didn’t get out of second gear’: Inglis makes ton as Australia chase down 352 to beat England

Australia beat England by five wickets in a high-scoring Champions Trophy Group B match at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore in the early hours of Sunday morning AEDT.

Opener Ben Duckett smashed 165 to propel England to 351-8, a record total in the tournament’s history until Australia overwhelmed it, after they were put into bat.

Australia’s Josh Inglis is congratulated by teammate Glenn Maxwell after scoring century.Credit: AP

Josh Inglis hammered 120 not out, and Alex Carey (69) and Matthew Short (63) made half-centuries as Australia reached the target with 15 balls to spare.

Carey, who was playing in the outfield while Inglis keept wicket, also took a contender for catch of the tournament leaping full length to catch out Phil Salt for the first wicket of the match before teaming with his fellow keeper for the match-winning partnership.

They made 146 for the fifth wicket before Carey was caught out.

“I’m over the moon,” Inglis told broadcasters.

“When you chase 350, a lot of things have to go right for you to chase that down. I’m really pumped on a personal level but also for the guys after such a great performance.”

Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and chose to bowl despite the pitch looking ideal for batting, Smith reasoning was that the ground would become wet with dew and make for better chasing conditions.

He proved correct despite a scare at the start of the innings when Australia fell to 2-27 as Inglis and Glenn Maxwell powered the side to the win in 47.3 overs.

“It was easiest to bat at the back end, we thought around 350 would be chaseable,” Smith told broadcasters.

“For a moment there, they looked like they could make 400. I think it came down to trusting the boys bowling at the finish, they hit the right lengths and varied their pace then Marnus took a couple of key wickets.

“The two keepers have been battling beautifully for a while now and Josh didn’t look like he got out of second gear. He hits the ball all around the ground and has all the shots. Alex played beautifully around him.”

Roy Ward with Reuters

Australia has scored a memorable win over England chasing down 351 to win by five wickets.

Josh Inglis made 120 not out and hit a six for the winning runs while Glenn Maxwell starred at the finish with 32 not out from 15 balls.

Australia’s Josh Inglis.Credit: AP

According to the commentary, it will be the highest run chase in any ICC tournament.

Australia finished on 5-356.

Thanks so much for joining us. Bye for now.

Maxwell hit the free hit for six to bring Australia within reach of victory.

Inglis can hit the winning runs next over.

Australia are 5-348 and need four runs from 18 balls.

It was called not out as the ball was above Maxwell’s waist.

It was changed to a no ball. Now Maxwell gets a free hit.

England can’t take a trick. Australia needs 10 runs to win from 20 balls.

Maxwell got a high full toss from Archer and tried to hit it out of the ground.

Livingstone took the catch in the deep.

Maxwell wouldn’t walk until the height of the full toss was checked.

Now they are having a chat to the third umpire.

Inglis hit Archer for six in the second last ball of the 46th over to bring Australia within reach of victory.

Australia needs 11 runs from 20 balls.

Maxwell cut Wood for four to open the 45th over.

He missed a short ball and then pulled the third ball for six. The Big Show is not messing around.

Australia now needs 23 runs from 24 balls to win.

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell.Credit: AP

Inglis has brought up his 100 by pulling Archer for six.

He got a big hug from Maxwell and gave the fans a huge smile as he raised the bat.

Maxwell then gave him a pat on the bottom, as if to say, mind back on the job now.

Australia’s Josh Inglis.Credit: AP

Inglis is on 104 from 78 balls.

Australia needs 36 runs to win from 32 balls.

Inglis has fired up smashing a long six and then using a ramp shot for a second-straight six to get to 96.

He took a single for 97 to finish the over.

Australia are 5-308 from 44 overs. They need 44 runs to win from 36 balls.

Wood kept Australia to just a couple of runs, then he let Maxwell get on strike.

Maxwell smashed him for four in the off-side and then chipped one over the mid on fielder for four.

Australia are right in this run chase at 5-295.

Australia needs 57 runs from 40 balls.

Mark Wood.Credit: Getty Images