1st Twenty20: Impressive Finch glad of Australia’s comeback
Batsman leads tourists to 39-run win against England.
Finch comfortably surpassed the previous Twenty20 world record of 123 set by New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum last year. PHOTO: REUTERS
SOUTHAMPTON:
Record-breaking batsman Aaron Finch was delighted his stunning innings helped Australia end a 200-day spell without an international win.
Finch’s remarkable 156, the highest score in a Twenty20 international, was the cornerstone of Australia’s 39-run win in the first T20 against England at Southampton on Thursday night.
The 26-year-old Victoria opener, who didn’t feature in the preceding 3-0 Ashes Test series loss to England, struck a record 14 sixes in his 63-ball innings as Australia made 248 for six – the second-highest T20 international team score – on a superb pitch for batting at the Ageas Bowl.
England responded with their own second-best Twenty20 score, 209 for six, but even Joe Root’s unbeaten 90 failed to give them any real hope of victory.
“It’s a huge boost,” said Finch. “Everyone is really confident,” he added ahead of the second and final match of this series in Durham today.
As for his own innings, Finch said, “It was just one of those days where things hit the middle of the bat and things went my way.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2013.
Record-breaking batsman Aaron Finch was delighted his stunning innings helped Australia end a 200-day spell without an international win.
Finch’s remarkable 156, the highest score in a Twenty20 international, was the cornerstone of Australia’s 39-run win in the first T20 against England at Southampton on Thursday night.
The 26-year-old Victoria opener, who didn’t feature in the preceding 3-0 Ashes Test series loss to England, struck a record 14 sixes in his 63-ball innings as Australia made 248 for six – the second-highest T20 international team score – on a superb pitch for batting at the Ageas Bowl.
England responded with their own second-best Twenty20 score, 209 for six, but even Joe Root’s unbeaten 90 failed to give them any real hope of victory.
“It’s a huge boost,” said Finch. “Everyone is really confident,” he added ahead of the second and final match of this series in Durham today.
As for his own innings, Finch said, “It was just one of those days where things hit the middle of the bat and things went my way.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2013.