This Day That Year: Aaron Finch blasted away the England bowling line-up

 

The explosive Australian opener Aaron Finch blasted away the England bowling line-up by posting the highest induvial score in the T20I format. He achieved this feat during the 1^st T20I played at Rose Bowl, Southampton on 29^th August 2013.

England captain Stuart Broad won the toss and decided to field first. It was not an ideal start for Australia as they lost an early wicket of David Warner for 1. Aaron Finch played with positive intent right from word go and put the pressure on the England bowlers right from word go. At the end of the first six overs, Australia scored 58 for 1.

Finch looked in cracking form hitting the pacers with brilliant strokes completing his fifty off just 26 balls. Shaun Marsh gave good support to Finch taking singles and hitting occasional boundaries. Briggs struck to dismiss Marsh for 28. Marsh and Finch added 114 runs for the 2^nd wicket.

Finch upped the ante with his power-hitting and completed his maiden T20I century off 47 balls. On the other hand, Shane Watson joined in smashing the England bowlers. After completing his century, the explosive opener smashed Luke Wright with big hits and Briggs put the hosts under immense pressure.

In the next 13 balls, Finch produced big-hitting and completed his 150 off 60 balls. He was finally dismissed for a superb 156 off 63 balls with 11 fours and 14 mammoth sixes at a strike rate of 247.61. He and Watson added 101 runs for the 3^rd wicket. Thanks to his sensational knock, Australia posted a huge total of 248 for 6 in 20 overs.

Despite Joe Root’s 90*, Ravi Bopara 45, Jos Buttler 27, England fell short of the target by 39 runs. Aaron Finch 156 was the highest induvial score in the T20I format. Finch broke his own record by posting the highest induvial score of 172 against Zimbabwe in 2018.

For 156 off 63 balls, Aaron Finch was named the man of the match award. Finch is an integral part of the Australian T20I squad. He made his T20I debut against England on 12^th January 2011. Since then he has played a total of 61 T20I matches ( 61 innings) and scored 1989 runs. Finch is the 2^nd Australian batsmen to score 2 centuries in the T20I format. He has hit 2 centuries and 12 half-centuries to his name.

Australia 248 for 6 in 20 overs ( Aaron Finch 156, Shane Watson 37, Jade Dernbach 3/34) beat England 209 for 6 in 20 overs ( Joe Root 90*, Mitchell Johnson 2/41, Hazlewood 2/43) by 39 runs.