Australian cricketer, Aaron Finch who featured in the NatWest Twenty20 Blast, for the long-established club Surrey during the ongoing season in the United Kingdom, has provided a 98-run stand, for the first wicket after battling with a calf injury in the quarter-final game against Birmingham Bears.
Under the leadership of Gareth Batty, the 30-year-old Colac-born top-order batsman Finch has challenged the calf muscle strain which he picked during the Kennington Oval game against the Warwickshire side led by New Zealander Grant Elliott.
Before being caught in the long-on region, Finch was forced to have a runner after tearing his calf muscle, in the very second over of the game.
HUGE wicket for the Bears ?
Aaron Finch is caught brilliantly by Sam Hain ?
Surrey 102/1 ➡️ https://t.co/eLcEpDJbru  pic.twitter.com/XF9Ghpz3zJ
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) August 25, 2017
Coming to bat, Surrey openers Jason Roy and Finch battered the bowling line-up of Warwickshire-club Birmingham Bears, as Surrey racked up 98 on board in 9.1 overs.
The right-handed batsman Finch was caught by Sam Hain on the bowling of Aaron Thomason after scoring 27-ball 39. He has smashed five boundaries and two sixes.
On the other side, the 27-year-old right-handed batsman Roy played a blinder while posting 74 off 38 deliveries. His quickfire innings included seven boundaries and four sixes.
Moreover, all-rounder, Moises Henriques has played his part with the bat for Surrey but in vain, as he remained unbeaten on 48 off 32 balls, as his innings was comprised of three maximums and a solitary four.
After Victorian batsman Finch pushed his side in the strong position alongside swashbuckling Roy, it were two Kiwi teammates Grant Elliott and Colin de Grandhomme, who saw Birmingham Bears home by six wickets and four balls to spare after chasing down the daunting target of 205 in 20 allotted overs.
For Bears, Elliott remained not out on 37-ball 59, as he smashed five boundaries and three sixes and on the other end, de Grandhomme walked out unbeaten on 39 off 22 balls.
BIRMINGHAM BEARS WIN a thriller at the Kia Oval! @BearsT20 are going to #Blast17 Finals Day ? pic.twitter.com/VZRMmhrN2H
— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) August 25, 2017
(Read Also: Shoaib Akhtar Lauds Shahid Afridi for his Swashbuckling Innings in NatWest T20 Blast)
It was the second time when Surrey posted 200-plus score during the ongoing competition after riding on splendid opening wicket stand and vital contributions from other batsmen.
During the game of run-fest in front of around 12,500 spectators at the stadium – the carnage in the first innings further forced injured and benched Surrey batsman Kevin Pietersen to Tweet and inquire about the Surrey’s declaration.
Can Surrey declare?
— Kevin Pietersen? (@KP24) August 25, 2017
Following the win to qualify for the Finals Day of the T20 Blast, Bears will now feature in its third semi-final since 2014.
Interestingly, the Edgbaston-based club has now a chance to revive the memories of 2014 on their base.
Finch has played 199 Twenty20 games in which he has amassed 6,195 runs at an average of 34.80 at the strike-rate of 138.83. He has registered three hundreds and 46 fifties in 195 innings.