Synopsis
In a thrilling match, Josh Inglis played a pivotal role in Australia's record run chase of 352, securing a five-wicket win over England. He emphasized the team's strategy of batting second, anticipating better conditions at the Gaddafi Stadium, which proved crucial to their success.Key Takeaways
- Josh Inglis scored an impressive 120 not out.
- Australia's chase marked the highest successful chase in ICC Men's ODI history.
- Inglis and Carey formed a critical partnership of 146 runs.
- Steve Smith praised the team's batting and bowling efforts.
- Jos Buttler acknowledged Duckett's brilliant innings despite the loss.
Lahore, Feb 22 (NationPress) Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis, the standout performer in Australia’s remarkable run chase of 352, which led to a five-wicket victory over England with a brilliant 120, mentioned that the team anticipated improved conditions at the Gaddafi Stadium during the latter part of the match.
Inglis, originally from Yorkshire and raised in Australia, scored an impressive unbeaten 120 off 86 deliveries, featuring eight fours and six sixes, guiding Australia to complete the chase with 15 balls left. This victory marks Australia’s record for the highest successful chase in the history of ICC Men's ODI tournaments, as well as in a men’s ODI match held in Lahore.
At one stage, Australia found themselves in a precarious position at 136/4, but Inglis and Carey combined for a match-defining fifth-wicket partnership of 146 runs in 116 balls, ensuring a comfortable win. "I’m over the moon, it’s a fantastic win. Chasing down 350 requires a lot to go right. I'm really excited personally and proud of the team. It was a tremendous performance. There wasn’t much discussion at half-time, we had done plenty of talking before the match,”
“We recognized that batting in the second half would be challenging due to the dew, and the pitch played well. It was always going to be easier batting second. Alex is quite silent when he bats. I was focused on not glancing at the scoreboard too often.”
“We knew with Maxi still to come, if we could get him to the last 10 overs, we had a real chance. I aimed to keep rotating the strike with the spinners and stay proactive. We understood that the ball would skid on nicely towards the end. It’s a short, intense tournament, so starting with a win is crucial,”
stated Inglis post-match.
Australia's captain Steve Smith praised the batting efforts, aside from himself and Travis Head, for putting up significant scores in a challenging chase and commended his bowlers for controlling England’s run rate in the final 10 overs of their innings.
"The players were exceptional, Matt Short batted beautifully, while Travis and I were the only ones who did not make an impact. We would have opted to bowl first regardless, considering the wet conditions during training. It slowed down during the first innings, and we believed 350 was attainable.”
“The two keepers have been in fantastic form, with Josh playing superbly without breaking a sweat, showcasing shots all over the ground. I’m not sure if Josh still possesses an English passport, but he’s not leaving!”
“It appeared they might score 400, but we relied on each other's skills, strategically taking pace off at the right moments, maintaining good lengths, and effectively managing the latter stages. Marnus also bowled well and took a few wickets.”
England skipper Jos Buttler lamented that Ben Duckett’s outstanding 165 ended in defeat and praised Australia for their effective chase. "It was a thrilling match, both sides performed admirably. Kudos to Australia for their clinical approach, and a fantastic innings from Inglis. 350 is a solid score, but the dampness and dew were concerning.”
“Duckett has been exceptional at the top of the order across all formats; he has been on the verge of a big score for a while. It’s unfortunate it came in a losing match. Everyone understands the importance of capitalizing on good starts, focusing on building significant partnerships, which Root and Duckett executed well. Both Root and Livi bowled effectively, creating opportunities, but credit to Australia—we couldn’t break that partnership; hence, we must acknowledge the opposition's efforts.”
