Ben Duckett slams highest score in CT history

Ben Duckett became the sixth centurion of the Champions Trophy 2025 with the highest score in the tournament history (165), setting England up against Australia at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore. England showed better middle-overs batting smarts than they'd done in the lead-up to the tournament in India as Duckett and Joe Root added 158 runs from the sixth to the 31st over that paved the way for their eventual total of 351/8.

Steve Smith put his opposition in, in anticipation of dew later in the evening. Phil Salt took four balls to size up left-arm quick Spencer Johnson before driving through mid-off for the first four and following it up with a straight six. Ben Dwarshuis, the other left-arm quick, arrived from the other end and sent Salt packing in just the second over.

The dismissal however, was to the credit of a flying Alex Carey at mid-on. Salt flicked a full delivery in the air and Carey took a couple of steps to his right and dived with an outstretched right hand to complete a sensational take. England's new No.3 Jamie Smith made a promising start but lasted only 13 balls for his 15 before he too hit one to Carey at mid-on off Dwarshuis.

Root and Duckett then settled in on fairly comfortable batting conditions to patiently build England's essay as Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa operated from the two ends. Root soon got to his first 50-plus score in 11 innings against Australia in ODIs but couldn't proceed to turn that into a century. Duckett meanwhile curbed a bit of natural instinct to attack throughout and did well playing straight against the spinners. The duo brought up the 150-run stand for the third wicket in the 30th over before Zampa trapped Root leg before in the 31st over. Root exited for a 78-ball 68.

Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone were both snuffed out by spin after brief stays while Duckett carried on. He went on to surpass the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history, before getting out LBW to Marnus Labuschagne in the 48th over. Labuschagne picked another wicket but also conceded 15 off the final over as England took their total just past 350.

Brief Scores:
England 351/8 in 50 overs (Ben Duckett 165, Joe Root 68; Ben Dwarshuis 3-66, Marnus Labuschagne 2-44, Adam Zampa 2-64) vs Australia