The ambience at the Ghadafi Stadium yesterday was breathtaking as Australia defied all the odds to chasing a mountainous target of 352 with Josh Inglis smashing 120 off 86 balls in a 146-run fifth wicket rampage together with Alex Carey 69 in extinguishing England’s firepower Ben Duckett’s marathon knock of 168 that had threatened to put Australia out of the game in the 4th Champion’s Trophy fixture against their arch rivals in a group B match in the 2025 ICC championship.
The pitch looked different with Australian clay, hard with a few cracks. The dimensions are a bit smaller than what we witnessed in the 1996 World Cup after refurbishment of this wonderful stadium in Pakistan.
Australia crippled by not having the luxury of their premier seamers. Starc , Cummins, and Hazelwood are set a huge challenge with only Zampa the leg spinner in their ranks.
Nathen Ellis, Spencer Jhonson, and Ben Dwashus are relatively new at this level against a talented England team led by Jos Buttler, who has talent but lacks a ruthless attitude against an Australian outfit which win ICC multi tournaments, a DNA they are blessed with on a big stage.
Australia with four specialist bowlers and a vulnerable fifth bowler in Glen Maxwell played seven specialist batters to bat deep as they won the toss and bowled on the road of a pitch that is too run friendly. Reason the anticipated dew factor.
Jos Buttler accepts the challenge, and his batters made use of not only the limited option in the bowling cordon of Australia but took advantage of the vulnerable 5th bowler restrictions of Australia as they made their highest score of 351, thereby setting Australia a record chase of 352 being the highest target in an ICC multi tournaments competition.
Despite losing Phil Salt to a catch of the day by Alex Carey for 10 runs and the talented Jamie Smith for 15 runs , England did well to score 73 runs for 2 wickets in the power play overs.
Joe Root and Ben Duckett knew the biggest challenge was to bat deep and ensure they faced the leg spin test of Adam Zampa in the mid overs since Ducket and Root are the best batters against spin in the English strong batting line up.
Duckett must bat through as the opener is a left-hander to counter Adam Zampa and protect Harry Brook , Jos Buttler, and Liam Livingston being exposed early to Adam Zampa.
The plan worked to a great extent. Duckett and Root stiched a partnership of 158 runs for the 3rd wicket and made batting look easy on the eye.
With England on 201 and Joe Root on 68, Australia got the much needed break through when Adam Zampa spun a googly to dismiss Joe Root Lbw , guilty of trying to sweep the wrong un and opening the gate for the kangaroos to invade.
At the end of the 2nd power play, England was still sitting pretty 268 for 4 wickets as Harry Brook was undone for just 3 runs on a batting paradise.
Buttler made haste with 23 off just 16 deliveries in the death overs but fell victim to a drag down delivery by Glenn Maxwell to be caught at the cow corner by Labuchange with England on 280. However, the presence of Ben Duckett still at the wickets with his maiden ICC tournament century gave England hopes of 350 plus runs and bat Australia out of the game. Hence, even the com box commented the herculean task ahead of Australia batting second and chasing a big target. The only hope for the men in yellow was the due factor.
Duckett was dismissed at last by a part timer Marnus Labuchange for 168 , Joffre Archer made a cameo out of the Australian bowling options in the death overs by scoring 21runs off 14 balls and England the Australian 50 overs leather hunt with 351 for 8 wickets their highest ever score in an ICC based multi tournament.
The pick of the bowlers as envisaged was Adam Zampa. Despite being cartered by Ben Ducket, he took 2 vital scalps of Joe Root and Harry Brook conceeding 64 runs.
Nathen Ellis went wicketless, but he was effective with his seam deliveries, conceeding 51 runs , Glenn Maxwell 1 for 58 , Spencer Jhonson a bad day in the park wicketless for 54 , whilst Ben Dwashus took 3 for 66.
352 is herculean, especially after Australia lost Travis Head and skipper Steve Smith with the total on 27. The win predictor indicated 85 % in favour of England and 15 % in favour of Australia.
This indicator might sound a reality to any side except the DNA of an Australian team known for their grit and ruthless approach when chips are down.
Marnus Labuchange and Mathew Salt ensured the required run rate was in tact as the stiched a partnership of 95 runs for the third wicket , throwing causion to the threat of Adil Rahid and his wrist spin. Marnus Labuchange departed for 47 with Australia on 122. The win indicator still had no hopes of an Australian win despite Australia maintaining the required run rate.
Mathew Short departed soon after for a well compiled 68 with Australia on 136 for 4 wickets. The old saying , one brings two came into the equation as the win predictor kept sliding against Australia.
Then dawns the rabbit out of the baggy caps of Australia. The carnage of Alex Carey and Jhosh Inglis. What a display of true grit , exquisite stroke play , meticulous timing , excellent rotation of strike going through gaps with the willow to make the English bowlers look for the all important currency for a living and that is a wicket which they simply could not get. The 146-run partnership not only maintained the required run rate but kept Australia within striking rate with the score on 282 for 5 wickets when Alex Carey departed for 69.
Glenn Maxwell needs no invitation to a run hunt party he gate crashes period . The right-hander executed strokes that only he could improvise when he sent the English crying for help he thumped 32 runs in 15 balls , with man of the match Josh Inglis 120 unbeaten runs in 86 deliveries to win this all time game that will remain in the minds of the Cricket loving public in the world reaching the target with 15 balls to spare and win by 5 wickets.
This performance by Australia is not only unbelievable but proves why they are the best in the world in rising from ashes, and the inborn gift that to win talent and ruthlessness must go hand in hand , which they have mastered over the years.
Wood 1 for 75 , Archer 1 for 82 , Brydon Carse 1 for 69 , Adil Rashid, the only threat 1 for 47 bowled their hearts out, but it was against Australia .
Today, we visit Dubai as India plays Pakistan.
