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14-Jan-2011 12:15:00 GMT
Australia v England, 2nd Twenty20, Melbourne

Finch Sets up Tight Win for Australia

Melbourne: Hometown hero Aaron Finch has inspired Australia to a thrilling four-run victory over England in Friday night's Twenty20 International at the MCG.

Just like the game in Adelaide two days earlier, the result came down to the final ball bowled by the born-again Brett Lee, but English all-rounder Tim Bresnan could only manage a single when he needed six.

And the fact they did was down to the contribution of Finch, the 24-year-old Victorian who was playing just his second match at international level.

His dazzling 53 not out off 33 balls lifted Australia to a competitive 7-147 after their innings had been in real danger of stalling.

In 34 minutes at the crease, Finch hit four fours and two blazing sixes, one of which off English paceman Ajmal Shazhad measured 84 metres.

Finch shared what was ultimately a match-shaping 51-run sixth-wicket stand with Steve Smith (13) when the home side had slumped to 5-80 thanks to a tight display of slow bowling from Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy.

Off-spinner Swann's haul of 2-19 off four overs was highlighted by the dismissals of Tim Paine (21) and captain Cameron White for a duck.

White's first match as Australian skipper on his home ground was soured when adjudged lbw by Paul Reiffel on the second ball he faced.

Yardy's left-arm bowling also conjured 2-19, getting Warner, who hit only three boundaries during his 26-ball stay and David Hussey (8 off 16 balls).

England's reply got off to a bright start with the explosive Ian Bell and Steven Davies putting on 60 before Bell was bowled by Mitchell Johnson for 39.

Johnson then followed that up with the key wicket of Kevin Pietersen (1) caught sharply by White at cover, before Shane Watson dismissed English captain Paul Collingwood (6) two overs later.

Australia's attack certainly worked together to apply pressure, with Watson (2-17 from four overs) central to the cause.

His dismissal of Davies, caught at mid-on by Warner saw England teetering at 4-88.

Luke Wright and Eoin Morgan lifted the score to 111, but when Wright was caught by an acrobatic Steve Smith at mid-off, Australians could feel the worm was turning.

And that feeling was extenuated when Finch took a blinder on the deep mid-wicket boundary to give Johnson his third wicket, and the key one of Morgan.

England needed 16 off the final over with tailenders Bresnan and Chris Woakes ensuring the match went down to the wire.

Woakes hit Lee for six, but the next ball went for one, leaving Bresnan to try and clear the boundary for an England win.

Lee bowled a short one, but Bresnan's pull squeezed out for a single and Australia fans could at last celebrate.

Brief scores
Australia
147 for 7 (Finch 53*)
England 143 for 6 (Bell 39, Johnson 3-29)
Result Australia won by 4 runs
MOM Aaron Finch (Australia)


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