Finch puts hand up for Aussie exit

Opener Aaron Finch has accepted some of the blame for the 40-run DLS loss to England that ended Australia's Champions Trophy campaign at Edgbaston.

Finch looked in great touch after a slow start, but his departure for 68 when well set saw Australia surrender a position of strength to post an under-par total of 277.

The Victorian put on 96 for the second wicket with skipper Steve Smith, but then mistimed a Ben Stokes delivery and Eoin Morgan took a spiralling catch.

Australia were 2-136 when Finch departed and the 30-year-old said he felt he should have kicked on for a big score.

"We come here to win the tournament and anything less you're disappointed but we were outplayed today," Finch said.

"We had a great opportunity to post a really big score but myself and Smithy didn't go on which is what the situation needed at the time.

"From that point of view we have let our side down slightly."

Australia had England in trouble on 3-35, but a 45-minute rain delay galvanised the hosts with Stokes and Morgan putting on 159 for the fourth wicket to win the game on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

With the lively home crowd lapping up the big hitting from the England duo, Finch came in for some special attention from the fans in the Eric Hollies Stand, where he was manning the boundary.

Image Id: 95CE025542724E098E8A9BA704E50B82 Image Caption: Finch made some new friends // Getty

The burly Victorian was serenaded with chants of "Finchy's going home" and his every touch of the ball was greeted with a roar of approval.

There were even jeers when Smith moved Moises Henriques to the boundary, with the crowd chanting for the return of their new hero.

Finch said he found the whole situation to be great fun and insisted he gave as good as he got to the Birmingham crowd, who found a new Australian figure to target following the retirement of Mitchell Johnson.

"It was good ... the English have always got good banter," Finch said.

"Luckily I won them over quite early and they were on my side. Like anywhere in England ... if you don't get them onside early it could be a long day.

"You applaud their good stuff and give a bit back."

Aside from Finch and Smith, only Travis Head made a meaningful contribution with an unbeaten 71.

He came in at No.5 but ran out of partners quickly as the middle order disintegrated with five wickets falling for 15 runs.

The 23-year-old South Australian has enhanced his burgeoning reputation on this tour with another mature innings when his side needed it.

"I think I left a few out there and I think I was 20 short from a batting sense," Head said

"But I feel very comfortable in this side now and although I only batted once in the tournament ... it was good to get the opportunity."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy nation

Schedule

1 June – England beat Bangladesh by eight wickets

2 June – New Zealand v Australia, No Result

3 June – Sri Lanka lost to South Africa by 96 runs

4 June – India beat Pakistan by 124 runs

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, No Result

6 June – England beat New Zealand by 87 runs

7 June – Pakistan beat South Africa by 19 runs (DLS method)

8 June – Sri Lanka beat India by seven wickets

9 June – Bangladesh beat New Zealand by five wickets

10 June – England beat Australia by 40 runs (DLS method)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)