Aaron Finch has continued his incredible T20I form, breaking his own record for highest ever score in the format with a stunning 172 from 76 deliveries in Harare.

Sent in to bat by Zimbabwe in Australia’s second match of the T20 tri-series, opener Finch unleashed on the depleted hosts, racing to a half-century from 22 deliveries before bringing up his second T20I century from 50 balls.

Zimbabwe had no answers for the powerful right-hander, who struck a maximum in the 19th over to better his previous mark of 156, scored against England in 2013, as Australia posted 2-229.

Together with opening partner D’Arcy Short, who struck his own 46 from 42, Australia set a new mark for highest partnership in men’s T20Is, surpassing the previous record of 171 set by Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson against Pakistan in 2016.

They were on track to become the first men’s team to bat through 20 overs without losing a wicket, before Short was dismissed with four balls remaining.

Finch’s blitz finally ended in bizarre circumstances, with the Australian skipper out hit wicket chasing a wide delivery from Blessing Muzarabani on the penultimate ball of the innings, ending a knock that featured 16 fours and 10 sixes.  

He was just three runs short of the highest ever 20-over score - a mammoth 175no scored by Chris Gayle in the Indian Premier League in 2013.

Finch’s knock continued what’s been a ridiculous year in T20s already for the 31-year-old, who has carved out 398 runs at the astonishing average of 199, with a strike rate of 218.68 in 2018 to date.

The powerful right-hander has only been dismissed once in matches against England, New Zealand and Pakistan this year, notching scores of 20no, 36no, 18no, 84 and 68no before his record-breaking antics against Zimbabwe.

cricket.com.au