Champions Trophy: Ben Duckett breaks 21-year-old tournament record as England score 351/8 vs Australia

Steve Smith was left frustrated after his decision to bowl first backfired against England in the Champions Trophy 2025. England scored 351/8 from their 50 overs to give the current ODI World Cup winners a huge target of 352 to chase. The star of the show with the bat was none other than opening batter Ben Duckett. 

The 30-year-old scored 165 runs off just 143 balls to set a new record in Champions Trophy history. Duckett went past the previous record for highest individual score held by former New Zealand batting star Nathan Astle. 

Astle had scored 145 not out for his side against the USA in the 2004 edition at the Oval. Duckett was in his element as he smashed each and every Australian player to each part of the ground. For the Aussies, the best bowler was Ben Dwarshuis with three wickets, while Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne picked two scalps each. 

English batting order pummels Australian bowlers 

Put into bat, England lost the wickets of Phil Salt and Jamie Smith inside the first six overs to be placed at 43/2. The pair of Ben Dwarshuis and Alex Carey removed both the batters to give Australia a good start. Joe Root then added 158 runs for the third wicket with Duckett before falling for 68 to Adam Zampa in the 31st over. The Aussie spinner struck again when he got the key scalp of Harry Brook for three runs. 

Jos Buttler (23) and Liam Livingstone (14) helped Duckett keep England in control with the bat. Duckett was finally out for 165, with his knock coming off 143 balls with 17 fours and three sixes. Jofra Archer took England past 350 with a four and six off Labuschagne to end his innings not out on 21 off just 10 balls. 

Speaking at the end of the innings, Joe Root said, “Slow wicket, kept low. We gave ourselves a good opportunity to get a good score. Happty at the half-way. He went through different gears and managed different bowlers. Keeping the stumps in play. Nice change of pace. Subtle variations. Can we make it difficult for them to get the timing and use the middle of the wicket?"