Finch blitzes state record as Vics defeat Bulls

Aaron Finch bashed a Victorian record 188 not out in an extraordinary six-hitting rampage to cancel out World Cup teammate Usman Khawaja's earlier century and help Victoria keep their hopes of defending their domestic 50-over title alive.

Khawaja's second consecutive Marsh One-Day Cup ton sent a statement to national selectors after his Ashes axing, but it went in vain as Finch belted 14 sixes to lead the hosts to a nine-wicket victory over Queensland.

The opener finished with 188no off just 151 balls – his highest career List A total and the biggest score ever at the Junction Oval, erasing Khawaja's 138 from two days earlier – to hand his side their second win of the tournament against the previously undefeated Bulls.

Finch’s 14 maximums (his final one, over long on off spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, sealed the match with 34 balls to spare) was the second most hit in an Australian domestic one-dayer, with D’Arcy Short the record-holder with 23 sixes from his double ton last summer.

As he did on Sunday, visiting skipper Khawaja won the toss, batted and anchored a strong Bulls first-innings effort with a classy ton at the top of the order, hitting six fours and two sixes in his 125-ball 112.

Opening partner Sam Heazlett also continued his outstanding 50-over form, staying on top of the Marsh Cup's run-scoring charts in posting a rapid 69 off just 51 balls – his fourth straight half-century in the tournament.

In an unfamiliar role, regular opener Matthew Renshaw then applied the finishing touches to the innings with a 73-ball 66 to see the visitors post 6-304 off their 50 overs.

But Finch's knock eclipsed them all, receiving help from recalled keeper Sam Harper (44 off as many balls) and new No.3 Marcus Harris (61 off 75) in the two sides' final game in this current block of one-day matches before the Marsh Sheffield Shield gets underway next week.

Victoria flopped when chasing 322 at the same venue against the same bowlers two days ago but Finch, out for a sedate 46 off 77 balls on Sunday, led a belligerent response to an imposing run-chase.

The decision to demote Harris to No.3 and reunite Finch with the recalled Harper (the pair that blitzed the Melbourne Renegades to last season's KFC Big Bash title at the top of the order) proved a masterstroke.

Harper, who replaced Will Pucovski in the Victorian XI and took the gloves off keeper Peter Handscomb, took the game on in an exhilarating 136-run opening stand, not hesitating to play his trademark scoop shot inside the first 10 overs.

The part-time spin of Marnus Labuschagne ended his contribution, but Finch remained in a breathtakingly aggressive mood, hitting bombs all over the park regardless of where Khawaja placed his fielders.

He needed just 29 balls to reach his fifty and then just 73 balls to reach triple figures, his first 50-over ton since his even 100 against England at Lord's in the World Cup.

A sublime inside-out six over cover off Kuhnemann highlighted his continuing onslaught, thrice hitting back-to-back sixes in the same over as he cleverly picked his targets among the helpless Bulls bowlers.

Keeper Jimmy Peirson put down a difficult one-handed diving catch with Finch on 128, but the right-hander otherwise didn't offer a chance.

The Vics were left to rue a handful of near misses off Khawaja, dropping him twice, as he and Heazlett put on 118 for the first wicket after their 185-run stand two days earlier.

Peter Handscomb used four different bowlers for the first six overs of the game as the pair rollicked along at seven-and-a-half an over while the fielding restrictions were in place.

Left-arm spinner Jon Holland needed just six balls to finally get the first breakthrough, trapping Heazlett in front, but his replacement Marnus Labuschagne ensured there was little disruption to the run flow as he punched James Pattinson for four down the ground off just his second ball.

The hosts turned to spin with some success in a bid to curtail Queensland, with recalled allrounder Matt Short (1-45 off 10 overs) proving the most effective of the hosts' bowlers.

The off-spinner had Labuschagne bowled off an under-edge, but Khawaja handled the slow men adeptly on a sluggish pitch as he anchored the Bulls innings.

It was a typically subdued celebration from the 44-Test batsman upon reaching triple figures, this time bringing up the milestone in 114 balls.

Matthew Renshaw picked up the pace as Khawaja holed out to long-on, smashing Jon Holland for a towering straight six before an extraordinary late cut for four off speedster James Pattinson after getting himself in a tangle.

Will Sutherland (2-43 off six overs) took two wickets in the final over to finish as the Vics' only multiple wicket taker.