Matthew Wade and Mitchell Starc were both dropped in the final over but still managed to take Australia to a thrilling three-wicket victory over the West Indies with one ball to spare in the T20 international at Metricon Stadium.
Australia were in trouble when they slumped to 58-5 in the eighth over, but skipper Finch, who usually opens, and Matthew Wade (39 not out) steadied the ship, putting on 69 runs.
Finch fell in the 18th over and the game went to the wire, with Mitchell Starc hitting the winning runs with a ball to spare.
Australia needed 11 to win from Sheldon Cottrell’s final over on Wednesday when wicketkeeper-batsman Wade (39no off 29 balls) was dropped by Raymon Reifer with seven still needed.
Kyle Mayers then failed to cling on to another chance in the deep to get rid of Starc off the fourth ball, before he get the hosts across the line with two off the penultimate ball.
Australia captain Aaron Finch (58 off 53 balls) had pushed himself down the order to No.4 to give allrounder Cameron Green a crack at opening the innings where he had been so successful on the recent T20 tour of India.
Finch was at the crease early after David Warner and Mitch Marsh departed in Cottrell’s opening over.
Green (14 off 10) had a short stay. Glenn Maxwell and Tim David who both made ducks after undisciplined leg-side swipes.
West Indies legspinner Yannic Cariah (1-15 off four) was superb on debut.
West Indies paceman Alzarri Joseph (2-17 off four) said the performance of the side was heartening.
“Everyone is in a good head space and confident with the way we have been preparing. We really pushed Australia,” he said.
Earlier, Australia skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and opted to bowl against the West Indies. West Indies were able to Scored 145/9 for their 20 Overs.
West Indies opener Mayers (39 off 36) was in fine form early and took the game to the bowlers with an array of exquisite strokes.
Mayers played one shot of immense class when he rocked onto the back foot and punched a Cameron Green delivery high over the cover boundary.
The West Indies were 1-47 after five overs and set for a total of 180-plus before spinners Adam Zampa and Maxwell stemmed the run flow.
Josh Hazlewood (3-35 off four) and Cummins (2-22 off four) then turned the screws before a late cameo by West Indies bowling allrounder Odean Smith (27 off 17) gave them a chance.
Brief Scores: The West Indies 145/9 in 20 overs (Kyle Mayers 39; Josh Hazlewood 3-35) lost to Australia 146/7 in 19.5 overs (Aaron Finch 58, Matthew Wade 39*; Alzarri Joseph 2-17) by three wickets.
I think Alzarri should have bowled his third over earlier … when you have Australia against the ropes you can’t stop punching them. you have to leave the hardest work to your best bowler…I think that was the difference in the match. Cotterel was left to do Joseph’s work and clearly he didn’t do well. That over that went for 16 runs could have been the breaking point in the match