Ben Duckett’s spectacular 165 off 143 balls against Australia in Lahore made Champions Trophy history. In the competition’s history, Duckett became the first batter to score 150 runs.
Ben Duckett of England made Champions Trophy history on Saturday, February 22, in Lahore, with an incredible 165 off just 143 balls against Australia. Duckett destroyed the Australian bowlers, becoming the first player in the tournament’s history to reach 150. Additionally, it was Duckett’s highest ODI score.
In Lahore, Australia chose to field first after winning the toss. In the game’s second over, Alex Carey dismissed Phil Salt with a brilliant blow, giving them an early lead. Before the England No. 3 was removed with yet another excellent catch, Duckett was able to get going with Jamie Smith for a while. After that, Duckett and Root would form a collaboration that provided England with the much-needed momentum after the first powerplay.
Together, they scored 158 runs to put England in a strong position to reach a high total. After reaching his fifty in forty-nine balls, Duckett began to accelerate. He hasn’t always taken his innings deep in his ODI career, but Duckett and Root began to handle the spinners well.
Duckett reached his century off 95 deliveries and hit a boundary, marking the second time he had done so against Australia and the third in his ODI career. Then, as the runs began to come in for England, the opener would change gears and begin to put more pressure on the Australian bowlers. The opener passed Joe Root to record the highest score for England in the Champions Trophy when he reached 134. As Duckett surpassed Nathan Astle’s 145, the previous highest score in the tournament’s history, the records kept falling.
Duckett reached his 150 runs in 134 balls, and while the England batsman attempted to increase the run-rate in the last few overs, Marnus Labuschagne finally ended his innings. Duckett finished with three sixes and 17 boundaries.
Jofra Archer’s late burst in the last over allowed England to surpass the 350-run threshold following Duckett’s dismissal. In the last over, the pacer smashed a six and a boundary to give England a solid total.
