Finch rues soft dismissal in England loss

Aaron Finch has taken some of the blame for Australia's exit from the Champions Trophy, saying he should have gone on to post a big score.

Australia's Aaron Finch

Opener Aaron Finch has taken some of the blame for Australia's exit from the Champions Trophy. (AAP)

Opener Aaron Finch has accepted some of the blame for the 40-run loss to England that ended Australia's Champions Trophy campaign at Edgbaston.

Finch looked in great touch after a slow start, but his departure for 68 when well set saw Australia surrender a position of strength to post an under-par total of 277.

The Victorian put on 96 for the second wicket with skipper Steve Smith, but then mistimed a Ben Stokes delivery and Eoin Morgan took a spiralling catch.

Australia were 2-136 when Finch departed and the 30-year-old said he felt he should have kicked on for a big score.

"We come here to win the tournament and anything less you're disappointed but we were outplayed today," Finch said.

"We had a great opportunity to post a really big score but myself and Smithy didn't go on which is what the situation needed at the time.

"From that point of view we have let our side down slightly."

Australia had England in trouble on 3-35, but a 45-minute rain delay galvanised the hosts with Stokes and Morgan putting on 159 for the fourth wicket to win the game on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

With the lively home crowd lapping up the big hitting from the England duo, Finch came in for some special attention from the fans in the Eric Hollies Stand, where he was manning the boundary.

The burly Victorian was serenaded with chants of "Finchy's going home" and his every touch of the ball was greeted with a roar of approval.

There were even jeers when Smith moved Moises Henriques to the boundary, with the crowd chanting for the return of their new hero.

Finch said he found the whole situation to be great fun and insisted he gave as good as he got to the Birmingham crowd, who found a new Australian figure to target following the retirement of Mitchell Johnson.

"It was good ... the English have always got good banter," Finch said.

"Luckily I won them over quite early and they were on my side. Like anywhere in England ... if you don't get them onside early it could be a long day.

"You applaud their good stuff and give a bit back."

Aside from Finch and Smith, only Travis Head made a meaningful contribution with an unbeaten 71.

He came in at No.5 but ran out of partners quickly as the middle order disintegrated with five wickets falling for 15 runs.

The 23-year-old South Australian has enhanced his burgeoning reputation on this tour with another mature innings when his side needed it.

"I think I left a few out there and I think I was 20 short from a batting sense," Head said

"But I feel very comfortable in this side now and although I only batted once in the tournament ... it was good to get the opportunity."


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world