Last Updated on 2 months by Charbel Coorey
Australia’s winning mentality was on show again, this time pulling off the highest successful run chase in any ICC ODI tournament (Champions Trophy or World Cup). The Australians were in big trouble twice with Travis Head (6) and Steve Smith (5) out cheaply before the fifth over, before they fell to 136/4 in the 23rd over, still needing 216 to win.
According to Win Predictor, Australia had a 19% chance of victory. But, they controlled the game from there. Earlier this month, I wrote that Australia must find a way to play both Josh Inglis and Alex Carey in the XI, and it worked a charm. The two were absolutely outstanding, keeping things ticking over to stay in touch with the required run rate. They put on 146 crucial runs, and by the time Carey was out, Australia needed 70 off 50 and were favourites.
The superb Inglis went to another gear, smashing boundary after boundary when it came down to the crunch overs. He finished with an 86-ball 120*, in the process becoming the fifth Australian – male or female – to score a century in all three formats. Glenn Maxwell, who England needed at the crease 15 overs earlier, smashed 32* off 15 to get Australia home with a whopping 15 balls to spare.
Truth be told, this is a memorable win for Australia. Without Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh, the current ODI World Champions were written off by many and near full-strength England were expected to cast them aside.
However, Steve Smith’s team held in for most of the contest, starting with the ball as they restricted England to what seemed a below par 351 in conditions every batter dreams of. Nathan Ellis was particularly impressive despite finishing wicketless, maintaining an economy rate of under five for most of his spell on the Lahore road. Then, as England’s one dimensional attack struggled for impact, Inglis, Carey and Maxwell took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Reactions: Australia praised for winning mentality after beating England by 5 wickets in Lahore
Michael Vaughan, who had predicted an England win before the match, praised Australia for their “incredible chase”. Both Australia and rival fans were full of praise for the team, with one fan writing “to think that Australia managed this monumental win without Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc, Marsh and Green, with Head and Smith failing, is batshit crazy. Only Australia, honestly.”
Here are some of the reactions to a superb Australian win to kickstart their Champions Trophy campaign.
Next up for Australia is a tough assignment against South Africa in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. For England, they must beat Afghanistan in Lahore on Wednesday to stay alive in this Champions Trophy
