Aaron Finch hits new T20I record score in Australia Tri-Series win
Tuesday 3 July 2018 14:16, UK
Aaron Finch broke his own record for the highest individual score in a T20 International by smashing 172 off 76 balls in Australia's 100-run win over Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
Finch, who surpassed his previous best of 156 against England in 2013, blasted 10 sixes and 16 fours as Australia posted 229-2 from their 20 overs on their way to clinching a second-straight win in the Tri-Series after Billy Stanlake's four wickets fired them to an opening victory over Pakistan.
Finch ultimately lost his wicket in bizarre fashion to Blessing Muzarabani in the final over of the innings, overbalancing and hitting his off stump with his own bat as he fell over. D'Arcy Short contributed only 46 runs (off 42 balls) to a world-record opening stand of 223.
Finch's 172 left him three short of Chris Gayle's highest-ever T20 innings which he made for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League five years ago, against a Pune Warriors side captained by Finch.
In reply, Zimbabwe got off to the required flying start, taking 28 runs from Stanlake's opening two overs, but then Chamu Chibhabha (18 off 10 balls) chopped onto his stumps in Jhye Richardson's second over, and Stanlake returned to dismiss Solomon Mire (28 off 19 balls).
The wickets continued to tumble thereafter, with Andrew Tye claiming a hugely impressive 3-11 from his four overs, and slow-left-arm spinner Ashton Agar pitching in with 2-16 as Zimbabwe crumbled to 129-9, slipping to a second defeat in two.
Zimbabwe play Pakistan in the next match of the Tri-Series in Harare on Wednesday.
