WATCH: Travis Head falls cheaply courtesy of Jofra Archer's extreme reflexes off his own bowling
Head had to walk back as Australia's first wicket in the fourth over.
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Star opener Travis Head entered the pitch during the second innings of the fourth match of the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 as Australia squared off against England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, February 22. The Australians were set a target of 352 runs after Ben Duckett paved the way with his big hundred against a formidable line-up.
The onus was onto Duckett's counterpart Head to turn the heads around with a solid start to the chase, however, express pacer Jofra Archer put an end to Head's plans with an unbelievable catch on the first ball of the fourth over. Head hit the ball fiercely, and one would not assume the bowler to even stop the ball hit at that pace. But Archer not managed to get his hands, but also held the better of the ball to affect an early dismissal in England's target defence against their rivals.
As a result, the Southpaw had to make his way back to the pavilion very cheaply, adding only six runs from five balls during his brief stay at the crease.
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5One brings two as Steven Smith follows suit
Shortly after Head's wicket, Australia needed their incoming skipper Steven Smith to steady the ship and not let the dismissal mount the pressure on the side. However, he too failed, handing a simple catch in the slip cordon, as Mark Wood's ball in the following over affected an outside edge off Smith's blade. Duckett continued his merry outing in the field, finding no trouble whatsoever to grab the ball, sending the Australian skipper back in the hunt.
Meanwhile, experienced batter Joe Root was satisfied with the target set by the Englishmen at the end of the first innings. The batter, who also contributed with a stable half-century, also lauded Duckett's knock and finally concluded that he wishes to roll his arm over with the ball in hand and help them restrict Australia behind the finishing line.
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"It was quite a slow wicket, kept low. The way we were scoring, we were giving ourselves good opportunity to go on and get a good score on that surface. It feels like that's the case. We have to still perform with the ball but very happy at the halfway. (On Duckett's innings) Very good. The way he paced it, the way he played throughout, going through different gears, it was excellent. Difficult to bowl to. Hopefully we can capitalize on that," he said during the mid-innings' break.
"(On key to bowling here) Keeping the stumps in play, nice and straight and small variations seem to make it a little bit tricky. The key for us is to be aggressive in the powerplay and as soon as the ball stops swinging, try and make it difficult for them to get the timing and use the middle of the wicket. (On his bowling) Definitely been working hard, hopefully I get an opportunity today," he said further.
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