And it said plenty about the pitch, plus an outfield quicker than a Lee Mack one-liner, that no one could confidently state the Champions Trophy’s highest ever total – England’s highest at an ICC event, full stop – would be enough.
This always felt like a game that would be decided by small moments, however; moments such as Archer swatting 21 runs off 10 balls at the death or Australia struggling at times to close out their overs.
Set 352 to win this Group B encounter after Ben Duckett’s sublime 165 from 143 balls – the highest individual score at a Champions Trophy – Australia wobbled initially.
The first, when Phil Salt thought he had cleared mid-on on 10, sparked instant chatter about those Aussie Rules days back in South Australia: a full-stretch one-handed mark that Tony Modra would have been proud of.
But what followed was a masterclass from Smith’s patched up world champions as an 86-ball unbeaten 120 from Josh Inglis reeled in the target in the 48th over to set a new record for a run chase at an ICC event.
