Sydney September 11 2022: Captain Aaron Finch bowed out of the game with a 3-0 whitewash over New Zealand in the ODI series as Australia clinched a thriller by 25 runs at Cairns.
The win takes Australia to the second spot on the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League table with 120 points. They are now five points off England, who sit on top of the standings with 125 points.
Aaron Finch bid farewell to the ODI cricket in the final game against New Zealand. His stay at the crease in his final game lasted only 13 balls, with Tim Southee shattering his stumps as the Australian captain walked off the field to resounding applause from the crowd at Cairns.
Finch called time on his career ahead of the final game, with a poor run of form affirming the decision to hang his boots. Australia now have enough time to find a replacement at the top of the order as well as a skipper to lead them in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup next year.
The 35-year-old will however be available to lead his side in the T20 World Cup at home next month where Australia will be looking to become the first team to defend their title.
Though he missed out with the bat ODI, he bows out of the 50-over format having captained Australia to a 3-0 whitewash over New Zealand in his final series.
In the final ODI, Australia managed to recover after they lost their openers in the Powerplay. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne stepped up with a 118-run stand for the third wicket. While Labuschagne fell soon after his fifty, Smith converted it into a hundred, his first in ODI cricket in almost two years. Some late fireworks from Alex Carey and Cameron Green propelled Australia to 267/5.
In reply, New Zealand's innings failed to take off. After the opening stand was broken for 49, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The innings of James Neesham, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner kept the Black Caps in the game but the total proved to be 25 runs too many as Australia completed a 3-0 whitewash.
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