Finch the best captain tactically: Vaughan

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has praised the tactical acumen of Aaron Finch after the Australian captain was rewarded for some bold gambles late in his side’s tense win over Pakistan in Taunton.

Australia’s victory margin of 41 runs looked comfortable enough, but in reality, the match was firmly in the balance heading into the final six overs of Pakistan’s run chase.

With Pakistan needing 44 runs to win from 35 balls and three wickets in hand, Finch persisted with spearhead Mitchell Starc, who produced two pivotal breakthroughs in the 45th over to give Australia the upper hand.

The first of those was the dismissal of a rampant Wahab Riaz, who was given caught behind after Finch called for a review of the umpire’s not out decision.

With just four frontline fast bowlers to choose from along with the off-spin of Glenn Maxwell, Finch was forced to bowl two overs himself, a move that produced the key wicket of Mohammad Hafeez.

“I have to say Aaron Finch, so far in this tournament, for me he has been the best captain tactically,” Vaughan told the BBC.

“I think he maneuvered his team against the West Indies well to win that game. And just over the last hour (against Pakistan), when it started to get a little bit panicky, he maneuvered his bowling attack knowing that he had to get these overs of spin (in).

“He left one (over of spin) late because he wanted to go for the glory with (Pat) Cummins and Starc, and it paid off. That’s what you have to do as a captain.

“It was his instinct to go for that review. I don’t think he felt it was out, but right at the last minute he thought ‘you know what, we have to gamble, we have to try and get Wahab Riaz out’. He gambled on the review.

“He got a lot of things right in the field in terms of squeezing at the right time, putting the catches in at the right time and then spreading them out when a partnership started to develop. I thought he was outstanding as a captain.”

With six overs remaining, Finch was unable to call on Cummins or Starc and had to call on Nathan Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson, but his tactical gambles were rewarded with a third win.

Both Vaughan and 1987 World Cup winning skipper Allan Border believe Finch’s side has been well below their best so far in the tournament, but have scope to improve for the knockout stages.

“I can’t see how they won’t be in the semi-finals,” Vaughan said. “The good thing for Australia is they’ve won three out of four and I don’t think they’ve clicked. And the other good thing is they’ve won two quite tight matches.

“Can they win the World Cup playing to the standard they played today? I don’t think so. But do they have enough in the locker to improve and win when it really matters? Absolutely.”

Border echoed Vaughan’s sentiments, while he also called for Steve Smith to be given a chance with the bal.