England opener Ben Duckett’s explosive 165-run knock powered his team to a formidable 351-8 in their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Duckett’s innings set a new tournament record as he became the first batter to score 150 runs in a Champions Trophy match. He surpassed New Zealand’s Nathan Astle, who had held the previous record with an unbeaten 145 against the USA in 2004. Duckett reached the milestone in 132 balls, striking 17 fours and three sixes.
Despite wickets falling at the other end, Duckett guided England past the 300-run mark before being dismissed. His knock helped England recover after early setbacks, with Philip Salt and Jamie Smith departing within the first 50 runs.
Star batter Joe Root also played a crucial role, scoring his 41st ODI half-century. He built a 150-plus partnership with Duckett to stabilize the innings. Root reached a personal milestone as well, crossing 20,500 runs in ODI cricket.
