Australia vs Pakistan: Aaron Finch Unhappy Over Lengthy Innings Break

Australian captain Aaron Finch has expressed his displeasure over a 20-minute innings break during the rain-affected first T20I against Pakistan. The long break after the first innings played its part in the match getting cancelled as Australia missed the chance of taking the lead in the three-match series. 

The game was already reduced to 15-over per side before the officials allowed the teams to take a 20-minute break. At the end of the visitors’ innings, the Australians came out to bat after what Finch considered as a lengthy innings break. The 32-year old felt that such a break did not make sense in a match that was already marred by rain.

“If you’re cutting overs off the game and you still have a 20-minute break, it doesn’t make much sense to me. When you lose a few overs and then you still have a 20-minute break… I thought that was really interesting. But it’s part of the rules and you can’t do much about it.” Aaron Finch said.

Match referee Javagal Shrinath had the option to reduce the innings break but he decided against it. Clause 11.4.2 of the playing condition states that “following a lengthy delay or interruption prior to the completion of the innings of the team batting first, the Match Referee may, at his discretion, reduce the interval between innings from 20 minutes to not less than 10 minutes.”

Pakistan, nonetheless, can consider themselves lucky because of the rain. Australia were well ahead in the game when the rain resumed. The result demanded that a minimum of five overs must be completed in the second innings. The target at the end of five overs was 39 and having scored 41 in three overs; the home side would have easily won.

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