Australian ODI captain Aaron Finch has wasted an early review during his side's historic opening fixture against Zimbabwe in Townsville, parting with his first audit on a ball that would have done well to have hit a second set of stumps.
Having thrown the ball to rising all-rounder Cameron Green in an effort to break the tourist's opening stand, the Western Australian's wayward delivery struck Innocent Kaia's pads, sending the cordon into an extended appeal.
Though on-field officials remained unwavering, Finch spent his first of two reviews to remove the 30-year-old, however, after ball-tracking was employed, the Victorian was left with a red face.
As captured by Fox Cricket's cameras, and summarised succinctly by Zero Wicket's own Scott Pryde, Green's leg-side seamer would have missed a second and third leg stump.
Australia lose their first review with this attempt against Innocent Kaia.
Live #AUSvZIM: https://t.co/jsGm8QKW4M pic.twitter.com/I4DmM3GBz1
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 28, 2022
Aaron Finch reviewing that is the exact reason why cricket umpires at park level will never be liked... It's a tough job when blokes think they have wickets hitting the sixth stump.
— Scott Pryde (@sk_pryde) August 28, 2022
Kaia's wicket was eventually claimed by the home side following a sprawling caught-and-bowled effort by Mitchell Marsh in the 11th over, the Harare native departing the crease after a patient 17 from 39 balls.
After 26 overs at the Riverway Stadium in the tropical far north, Zimbabwe's scorecard reads 3-110, with the latest wicket falling via a sublime over-the-head catch from Steve Smith.
WHAT a grab from Smith 👏
WATCH #AUSvZIM on CH501 or stream on @kayosports. pic.twitter.com/hhm00Rm1Mu
— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) August 28, 2022
Sunday's 50-over fixture at the Australian Rules Football venue marks the first of three in the Sunshine State, with the winter series wrapping up on Saturday, September 3.