WATCH: Finch burns early review, Smith plucks blinding catch

The skipper has wasted an early opportunity in the series opener.

Published by
Ed Carmine
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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.

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.

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.

Published by
Ed Carmine