England thought they were in the driving seat thanks to a monumental effort by Duckett, who thumped 17 fours and three sixes to anchor the innings and record England’s best score at an ICC event.
Travis Head and Steve Smith were kept to a combined 11 runs but Buttler admitted the evening dew, which descended during a 146-run stand in 116 balls between Inglis and Alex Carey, played into Australia’s hands.
Inglis, who previously averaged 23.61 in 27 ODIs with a high score of 65, got Australia over the line in front of a 26,232-crowd with 15 balls to spare by bludgeoning his sixth six, to go with eight fours.
He put on 158 in 155 balls with Joe Root, who made 68, and a total approaching 400 beckoned but Harry Brook, Buttler and Liam Livingstone contributed a combined 40 and only Archer’s cameo of 21 not out off 10 deliveries got them past 350.
England’s 351 for eight after being asked to bat first, underpinned by Ben Duckett’s magnificent 165 off 143 balls, were respectively the highest team and individual scores in Champions Trophy history.
