After a thrilling 41-run win over Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 match, Australia captain Aaron Finch has admitted that Hasan Ali and Wahab Riaz put his team under pressure at the end of the match on Wednesday, 12th June, in Taunton.
Hasan’s innings of 32 followed by Riaz’s 45 had almost brought Pakistan to the door of victory, but Australia pacer Mitchell Starc squashed their hopes with two wickets in 45th over and the defending champions eventually claimed a 41-run victory here on Wednesday.
Finch told media, “(They) certainly did put us under pressure. Guys like Hassan and Wahab are good strikers of the ball. It’s hard to stop when they're on a roll. We just had to bowl our best ball, whether it's a length ball or yorker. When you're slightly off, on a small ground like this, you're punished.”
On Australia’s innings, Finch lamented his side not batting the full quota of 50 overs, while he defended the tough call to leave out Adam Zampa for the Pakistan match.
He continued, “(We) didn't bat out our fifty overs which was disappointing. When you go with an extra batter, you back the batsmen to do the job. Probably tried to go a little too hard too early.”
Finch signed off by saying, “It was a tough call to leave out Zampa. When you lose your all-rounder to injury, have to choose one or the other. An extra batter or extra bowler. We went with the extra batter today and backed Maxwell to bowl the overs. It was a tough call on Zampa. He has been bowling nicely.”
(With Cricketnext Inputs)
