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Highest Individual Scores In Champions Trophy History

Arnav Chopra

Duckett, Smith, Sachin, Ganguly (Source: @ICC/X.com)Duckett, Smith, Sachin, Ganguly (Source: @ICC/X.com)

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The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is going on, where teams are giving their best as players are performing up to their potential in a bid to take their side to the prestigious title. In the ongoing match between Australia and England, the English opener, Ben Duckett, played a fine hand in pushing his side to a magnificent total.

The ICC Champions Trophy, formerly known as the ICC Knockout Tournament, began in 1998 and, since then, has been one of the most prestigious ICC tournaments played in the 50-over format. The eight top teams in the world strive their best to perform well for their side as they compete hard to earn the title.

There have been many instances of top-class performances from players around the world who have done significantly well to lift their side single-handedly with their outstanding quality knocks.

There have been some great innings in the ongoing tournament, too, but nothing better than Ben Duckett's 165 against Australia in the current game. Therefore, let's find out what the top scores are in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy.

3. Graeme Smith - 141 Runs From 134 Balls 

Former South African skipper Graeme Smith jointly shares the number three spot with Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Smith played a fantastic 141-run knock for his side, Proteas, against England in the 2009 edition of the Champions Trophy, which took place at their home. The match against England was played at Centurion, where Smith faced 134 deliveries to smash 14 boundaries in his quality knock, opening the innings for his side.

Smith was the lone wolf for the Proteas, as they could only manage 301 on the board for losing nine wickets after the conclusion of their 50 overs while chasing a mammoth target of 323 set by the English side, losing the game by a margin of 22 runs, in the group stage encounter.

3. Sachin Tendulkar - 141 Runs From 128 Balls

After Smith, the number three spot goes to the great legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who also played a 141-run knock from just 128 deliveries against Australia in the 1998 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy.

This game was played in Dhaka, where Tendulkar smashed 13 fours and three sixes to lift his side to a total of 307 after the conclusion of 50 overs. Tendulkar's effort helped India boss the game, as they managed to defeat the mighty Aussies by a margin of 44 runs, as they were eventually bowled out for 263, handing India a crucial victory in the third quarterfinal.

3. Sourav Ganguly - 141* Runs From 142 Balls

And finally, the number three spot is also shared by Tendulkar's teammate Sourav Ganguly who played another 141 run knock. The only difference is that he stayed unbeaten till the end after facing 142 deliveries against South Africa in the 2000 edition of the Champions Trophy. This particular game was played at Nairobi Gymkhana, where India defeated the African side by 95 runs.

Skipper Ganguly opened the innings alongside Tendulkar and found 11 fours and six sixes to power his side to 295, which proved enough, more than enough, as the Proteas were bowled out for just 200 in 41 overs. This knock came in the second semi-final against South Africa, which helped India progress to the final of the tournament.

2. Andy Flower - 145 Runs From 164 Balls

We now move to the number two spot, which is also jointly shared by Andy Flower and Nathan Astle. Flower, who was one of the prominent names from Zimbabwe back in the era, played a 145-run knock from 164 deliveries against India in the Champions Trophy 2002. This knock came at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium as Zimbabwe were chasing a daunting total of 289 set by the Indian side.

Flower's 145 consisted of 13 boundaries that came at a strike rate of 88.41, as Zimbabwe could only manage 274, losing the hard-fought game by a margin of 14 runs. Zimbabwe might have lost the game, but their resilience with the bat proved why they were one of the best sides of that era while Flower was in his prime.

2. Nathan Astle - 145* Runs From 151 Balls

Another contender for the number two spot is New Zealand's Nathan Astle, who played a valiant 145-run unbeaten knock against the United States of America (USA) in the 2004 Champions Trophy. His 145 came from 151 deliveries at The Oval, where the BlackCaps side won the game by a mammoth margin of 210 runs.

Astle opened the innings alongside skipper Stephen Fleming and went on to bat till the end, as the Kiwis posted 347 on the board while losing just four wickets. Meanwhile, the USA were rolled over cheaply for just 137, helping New Zealand with a massive victory in the group stage. Astle's valuable knock consisted of 13 fours and six sixes that downed the USA in a crucial encounter.

1. Ben Duckett* - 165 Runs From 143 Balls

And now, holding the top spot on the charts, is Ben Duckett, with the highest score in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy. The English opener, who is currently playing against the strong Australian side at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, batted 143 deliveries for his unbelievable 165-run knock that came at a strike rate of 115.38.

His massive score came on the back of 17 fours and three sixes that powered England to a highly challenging total of 351 after 50 overs. Duckett batted with great determination as his knock came in a much-needed situation, where England are hoping to begin their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on a high. It will now be interesting to see if someone even comes close to Duckett's score in the current edition of this high-profile tournament.