Watch video: Aaron Finch smashes 26 runs off Mohammad Irfan's over
The first T20I between Australia and Pakistan turned out to be a damp squib with rain playing the spoilsport at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. Interrupting the proceedings all through, the weather gods had the final say as the match was abandoned 3 overs into Australia's chase.
While the fans were forced to return home without witnessing a result, Aussie skipper Aaron Finch's brief blitzkrieg made sure they had something to cheer about. Chasing a paltry score of 119 for victory in 15 overs, Finch looked in a hurry as he took the attack to Pakistan's speedster Mohammad Irfan in the 3rd over. Smashing 26 runs in an over to give the left arm pacer a forgettable comeback in T20Is, Finch lit up the SCG with his blistering stroke play.
The over started off with Finch clubbing Irfan over the deep square leg for a mighty six. He then followed it up with consecutive boundaries on both sides of the wicket to put the bowler under the pump. Taking full toll of a free hit on the subsequent delivery, Finch smashed Irfan over deep mid-wicket for the second six of the over. Adding to the insult, he then clobbered the fast bowler down the ground for another boundary.
Watch the video below:
Aaron Finch went bananas in the third over, smacking Mohammad Irfan for 26 runs! #AUSvPAK | @bet365_aus pic.twitter.com/A6mVqkyI56
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 3, 2019
However, much to the disappointment of the local fans, the hopes of an Australian victory were soon dashed as the skies opened up over Sydney.
Earlier in the match, Babar Azam shouldered Pakistan's display with the bat in his first outing as a T20I skipper. Scoring 59* off 38 deliveries, Azam stood as his team's lone ranger as he managed to steer them to 107-5 before the innings was cut short due to rain.