Twitter Reactions: Back-to-back centuries for Aaron Finch as Australia take 2-0 lead

Mohammad Rizwan's efforts go in vain.

Published - 25 Mar 2019, 11:19 IST | Updated - 25 Mar 2019, 11:19 IST

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Australian skipper Aaron Finch is coming into his zone in the series against Pakistan. The 32-year-old recorded his 13th ODI century as well as his highest score in the format. His unbeaten 153 which came off 143 balls guided Australia to a commanding 2-0 lead in the 5-match series with an eight-wicket victory.

With this win, the Aussies won both the games in Sharjah, which has otherwise been Pakistan’s fortress. The Australian team is just clicking at the right time and is covering all its bases up ahead of the World Cup 2019. David Warner’s form will only bolster the team further going ahead. With their regular players missing, Pakistan never seemed to be in the race and didn’t reach the expectations at any point in time.

Mohammad Rizwan registers his first ODI hundred

After opting to bat first, Pakistan lost the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq early. Jhye Richardson dismissed him for a duck while his partner Shan Masood only managed to pile up 19 runs. The centurion in the first ODI, Haris Sohail, could only get 34 runs. It was wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan who rose up to the occasion with his maiden ODI century.

His 115 assisted by a 60 from skipper Shoaib Malik helped Pakistan finish with a decent total of 284 runs in 50 overs. While Jhye Richardson and Nathan Coulter-Nile picked up two wickets each, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa and Aaron Finch accounted one each. Considering the fact that the pitch gets quickened in the second innings, the total was slightly below par.

Aaron Finch gets back to his best just at the right time

Australia had a 209-run opening partnership in the chase and the Pakistan bowlers failed to display any sort of intent. Usman Khawaja continued with his golden form but missed out on a hundred as he was dismissed for 88. Aaron Finch looked extremely clinical and got 153 runs. While Glenn Maxwell was run out after scoring 19, Shaun Marsh remained unbeaten on 11.

Twitterati erupted after this brilliant innings from Aaron Finch. They believe that Australia is going to be a massive force to reckon with at the World Cup. Fans also congratulated Mohammad Rizwan for his century.

Here is how Twitterati reacted:

AJ Finch' 153* is his highest ODI score beating his 148 v Scotland at Edinburgh on 3 September 2013 and the 2nd highest score for Australia v Pakistan next to DA Warner's 179 at Adelaide on 26 January 2017#PakvAus
— Arthur_S (@allanholloway) March 25, 2019

Mohammed Rizwan's 115 v Australia at Sharjah is the 3rd highest score in ODIs by a Pakistan wicketkeeper and the highest since Kamran Akmal's 116* v Australia at Abu Dhabi on 3 May 2009#PakvAus
— Arthur_S (@allanholloway) March 25, 2019

@iFaheemAshraf is coming back to Pakistan after two matches of the series. This shows the management level of @TheRealPCB #PAKvAUS @MazherArshad @DrNaumanNiaz @Inzi pic.twitter.com/v0RHmdWX9A
— Mujtaba Ahmad (@livelonglaugh) March 25, 2019

Don"t we have better spinners in ODIs than Yasir & Imad. Even Finch bowled better than them. Poor team selection. When will @InziTheLegend learn that Yasir is not an ODI bowler. @aaliaaaliya #PAKvAUS
— Naveed Alam (@Naveed608) March 25, 2019

Mohammad Hasnain of @TeamQuetta making his ODI debut today! Quite a story from PSL to the National side.. 👏🏽👏🏽 #PAKvAUS
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) March 24, 2019

Imad Wasim in overs 41-50 in ODIs in the last two years has a terrific power-hitting record but he mostly bats at number 7 or 8. #PakvAus
Runs 230
Balls 156
Dismissals 1
Average 230.00
Strike Rate 147.44
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 24, 2019

Pakistan after 34 overs – 182/4
Pakistan after 50 overs – 284/7
102 runs in the last 16 overs – they've got to be doing better than that#PAKvAUS
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 24, 2019

127 dot balls in the Pakistan innings. Even if only 20 of those balls had been converted into a single, Pakistan would have scored 304 #PAKvAUS
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 24, 2019

Feels like I've just spent two nights watching the same ODI #PAKvAUS
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) March 24, 2019

Exciting speedster Mohammad Hasnain to debut for Pakistan #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/CW6tRxXRKA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 24, 2019

Aaron Finch allowed to bowl 10 overs, 1 wicket for 41 runs without any problems at all by the Pakistani batsmen. He had previously never bowled more than 4 overs in an innings in his ODI career #PAKvAUS
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 24, 2019

Wonder if Faheem Ashraf can play in the WC as a third seamer. His bowling average in ODIs, minus one series vs Zimbabwe, is 53.50 and batting career average is 13.27. #PakvAus
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 24, 2019

18 years old Mohammad Hasnain, who was player of the match in the PSL Final for three wickets and also clocked 151kmph in the tournament, gets ODI cap. This is also his first match in List A Cricket. #PakvAus
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 24, 2019

Mohammad Hasnain announces himself to batsmen around the world:
On a very slow pitch, 91mph bouncer to Aaron Finch
Finch's eyes closed
Finch is so late on the shot
Ball smashes into his helmet
Change of batting helmet#PAKvAUS
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 24, 2019