Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch score tons to set stiff target for Scotland

Aaron Finch continued his fine form

Australia, put into bat first after losing the toss in the first One-Day International against Scotland at Edinburgh, as a part of warm up fixtures for the upcoming bilateral series between Australia and England, mounted 362 runs for the loss of 3 wickets as both their openers, Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch, scored centuries en route to a 246-run partnership for the first wicket.

With only 37 runs from their first ten overs, Marsh and Finch got off to a slow start. But as the game progressed, they picked up the pace, bringing up their century partnership at the end of Australia’s 20th over.

While Marsh was still taking time to get used to the pace of the pitch, Finch went all guns blazing to get his century off 96 deliveries. As it turned out, Finch was not finished yet scoring his next 48 runs off just 20 balls, before getting dismissed for a 116-ball 148.

Scotland finally got their first wicket but not before both the openers combined to put together 246 runs, Australia’s best partnership for the first wicket ever. Shane Watson, coming in at one down, in what appears to be a strategical move to give both Marsh and Finch the best shot, scored a quick fire 37 off 24 balls.

Things got worse for Scotland, as the dismissal of Finch prompted Marsh (87 off 115 at the time of dismissal) to finally shift gears and end up with 151 runs off 149 balls to help Australia post an imposing target of 363 in 50 overs.