Finch goes big, hits record 172 as Australia destroy Zim

Harare, July 3 

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A slew of records tumbled as Australia destroyed Zimbabwe by 100 runs in the Zimbabwe  T20 Tri-series at Harare Sports Club on Tuesday. Australian captain Aaron Finch powered his way to 172, the highest score in T20 Internationals, and his opening partnership with D’Arcy Short put up 223 runs, another world record.

Australia reached 229/2, the highest total ever scored against Zimbabwe in a T20I. Finch cracked his first six in the fourth over, and brought up a 22-ball half-century with his third. That was his fastest in T20 Internationals. 

Finch brought up his second T20I hundred at the end of the 14th over, taking just 50 deliveries. Four overs later, his 15th four took Australia’s score to 200, and then he moved beyond 150 with a swipe to deep midwicket. He then surpassed his own world record score of 156 with his ninth six.

It appeared Zimbabwe might give the Aussies a run for their money openers Solomon Mire and Chamu Chibhabha rushed past 40 in the fourth over, but regular wickets stalled the innings after they were dismissed. 

Brief Scores: Australia: 229/2 (Finch 172, Short 46; B Muzarabani 2/38); Zimbabwe: 129/9 (S Mire 28; Tye 3/12, Agar 2/16). — Agencies