Australia opener Aaron Finch hit 156 for the highest ever Twenty20 international score to help his team set England a formidable target of 249 in the first match of the two-game series Thursday.
Finch struck 14 sixes and 11 fours in a stunning 63-ball innings in Southampton to score Australia's first ever T20 century and easily surpass the previous world record of 123, held by New Zealand's Brendon McCullum.
The right-hander's knock contained the most sixes hit by one player in a T20 innings. Jade Dernbach bowled Finch in the 18th over and finished with 3-34, as Australia posted 248-6.
England hasn't lost to Australia in any format in this Ashes summer, while the Australians' last competitive international win came 200 days ago.
Australia handed a debut to Pakistan-born legspinner Fawad Ahmed.
AP
source: newshub archive
