Finch century takes skipper to the top of the world

Australia captain Aaron Finch has led from the front in the World Cup clash with Sri Lanka, equalling his career-best score and surging to the top of this year's leading ODI run scorers on the way to his 14th one-day international century.

Finch played the anchor role expertly as he posted Australia's second century of the tournament, following on from opening partner David Warner's 107 against Pakistan earlier this week.

Live Match Centre: Australia v Sri Lanka

The opener took 97 balls to reach the milestone, as Australia reached 2-182 in the 33rd over batting first in their fifth match of the World Cup.

But that was the just the start as he pumped the accelerator and added his third fifty in just 31 balls. He eventually finished with 153 from 132 balls – equaling the score he made earlier this year against Pakistan in Sharjah – with a knock that included 15 fours and five sixes.

It equalled the highest score at this tournament so far, joining Jason Roy who hit 153 against Bangladesh, and set a new record as the highest score by an Australian captain at a men's World Cup, surpassing the 140 Ricky Ponting in the 2003 final against India in Johannesburg.

Finch had kissed the Australian badge on his helmet upon reaching three figures, raising his arms aloft and soaking in the applause from The Oval crowd well-acquainted with the 32-year-old from multiple stints with the ground's home county, Surrey.

Image Id: 402CF3B63C0E4D3B94109A9A53EC3535 Image Caption: Finch hit 10 fours and four sixes in his century // Getty

Usman Khawaja, with whom Finch shared in a 20-run second-wicket stand, went into the game as 2019's leading ODI run-getter, but his captain surpassed him on Saturday as he went past 900 runs for the year.

It continues Finch’s excellent recent run of form with the bat. He's now averaging 76.16 from his past 13 ODIs, while he has eight fifty-plus scores in one-day cricket in 2019, the most he's ever had in a calendar year.

It comes after a rotten of run of form earlier this year in which he averaged 15.77 in a nine-ODI stretch which had some questioning whether he would be the right man to lead Australia at this World Cup.

Finch has emphatically dismissed those doubts and, his run-making feats aside, he's also earnt strong praise for his tactical nous in recent games.

"I have to say Aaron Finch, so far in this tournament, for me he has been the best captain tactically," Ashes-winning former England captain Michael Vaughan told the BBC after Australia's victory over Pakistan.

Finch, after losing his seventh consecutive toss and getting sent in on a green-tinged pitched on Saturday, looked in supreme touch from the very start of his knock.

The right-hander, who shared in an 80-run opening partnership with Warner, hit his first ball from Nuwan Pradeep to the cover boundary, before following up with an exquisite on-drive for another four in that over.

That stroke caught the attention of Ed Cowan on social media, with the former Test opener suggesting recent exposure to three-time World Cup-winner Ricky Ponting, an assistant coach with Australia for the World Cup, may have played a part in the technically-pleasing shot.

Image Id: A5C23714C6FB4712BBEA5E41924232A3 Image Caption: Finch was on the front foot early // Getty

After smashing seven of his first 29 balls to the boundary, Finch then paced his innings well in continuing to keep his strike-rate up yet only hitting one boundary – a hooked six off Pradeep – off his next 56 deliveries.

Having been tied down by off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva, he then broke the shackles in spanking him for back-to-back straight sixes to help take 20 off an over as he and Steve Smith accelerated.

The Victorian then brought up his ton in style, whacking spinner Milinda Siriwardana for a six over long-off.

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE