Australia made history as they pulled off an epic chase to start their Champions Trophy campaign with a stunning five-wicket victory over England in Lahore.

England had set their old rivals a daunting target of 352, but Australia, led by Josh Inglis, got over the line with 15 balls to spare.

After winning the toss, Australia initially started strongly with the ball, as Alex Carey stretched to pull off a superb one-handed catch and dismiss Phil Salt for 10 in the second over.

However, Salt's fellow opener Ben Duckett did the damage as he racked up a record Champions Trophy knock of 165 from 143 balls, with Joe Root's 68 helping England seemingly put themselves out of sight.

Australia limited the damage to some extent, ensuring captain Jos Buttler (23) and Jofra Archer (21 not out) were the only other England batters to break 20, with Ben Dwarshuis (3-66) adding to the scalp of Salt by removing Jamie Smith (15) after his promotion up the order, as well as accounting for Liam Livingstone (14).

With a record chase ahead of them after England finished on 351-8, Australia initially started slowly, with Travis Head (six) and Steve Smith (five) both falling inside the first five overs to leave the innings in difficulty at 27-2.

We fall just short in our opening game of the Champions Trophy. pic.twitter.com/aN2fcpoGCo

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 22, 2025

Matt Short (63) and Marnus Labuschagne (47) gave Australia some hope with a 95-run partnership, but at 136-4 it looked unlikely they would win their opening match.

That was until English-born Inglis came to the fore, scoring a maiden ODI century. He hit a sensational unbeaten 120 from 86 balls, including six sixes and a 146-run partnership with Carey for the fifth wicket.

Carey rode his luck, though, being dropped by Archer on 49 and managing to add another 20 runs to his total until he was ultimately removed by Brydon Carse (1-69).

Glenn Maxwell came in with Australia still needing 70, but he added a quickfire 32no to combine with Inglis and secure a historic win, which takes his team level with South Africa on two points in Group B.

Data Debrief: Old rivals go big

The first match at an ICC event in Lahore since March 1996 certainly did not disappoint as the batters dominated for both sides in an epic match.

Duckett's 165-run knock, which contained 17 fours and three maximums, is the highest tally in the history of the tournament, and also the fourth-highest individual score in men's ODIs in Pakistan overall.

However, his record would be outdone in the second innings as Australia successfully chased down the highest total in Champions Trophy history, which is also the highest successful chase recorded in a global 50-over tournament.

It was also Australia's second-highest successful overall ODI chase (359-6 v India in 2019).

Inglis took just 77 balls to reach his ton. It is the joint-quickest century in Champions Trophy history, equalling Viirender Sehwag in 2002, an achievement that also came against England.

England's tally of 351 is the highest they have failed to defend in the ODI format, leaving them with a mountain to climb if they are to reach the semi-finals, with Afghanistan up next on Wednesday.