WORLD RECORD: Aaron Finch surpasses own record, sets highest T20I individual score

Finch smashed 172 runs off just 76 balls at a strike rate of 226.32, including 10 sixes and 16 boundaries

After going through series of losses against England, the Australians probably found a beacon of hope in Aaron Finch as soon as they arrived in Zimbabwe for a T20I tri-series. On Monday, they beat Pakistan and the very next day, skipper Finch wrote a new chapter in the history book of cricket.

In tournament’s third match against Zimbabwe, Aaron Finch registered the highest individual T20I score on July 3. He smashed 172 runs off just 76 balls at a strike rate of 226.32, including 10 sixes and 16 boundaries.

During this process, he went past his own previous highest—156 runs against England in 2013. Earlier, it was the world record before Finch caused a typhoon at the Harare sports club, today.

Earlier today, the Aussies lost the toss and were put to bat first. Finch came to open the innings with D’Arcy Short and not only just provided a terrific start; they stitched a record partnership of 223 runs. The duo batted together till 19.2 overs and set a new mark for the highest partnership in men’s T20Is, surpassing the previous record of 171 runs set by Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson against Pakistan in 2016.

D’Arcy fell short by 4 runs to complete his third T20I half-century and lost his wicket to Blessing Muzarabani, a few deliveries before the completion of the first innings.

On the other hand, Finch ended up in a bizarre situation and missed an opportunity to equal or break the all-time highest individual score in T20 cricket—175* runs by Chris Gayle in IPL 2014. Finch got out hit wicket chasing a wide delivery from Muzarabani on the penultimate ball of the innings.

After a superb show with the bat, the Aussies successfully posted 229 runs on the board in 20 overs with a loss of 2 wickets.