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Aaron Finch and Ryan Carters hit unbeaten opening stand of 376

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Aaron Finch of Australia hits out during the 5th Royal London One-Day International match between England and Australia
Image: Aaron Finch was in one-day form, hitting 214 for Cricket Australia against New Zealand

Aaron Finch hit a double century as a Cricket Australia XI demolished the New Zealand attack in their tour match in Sydney.

The tourists used nine bowlers trying to claim a wicket at the Blacktown International Sportspark, but they failed to do so as Finch carried his bat for 214 in an unbeaten 376-run opening stand with Ryan Carters.

Finch, who was a late addition to the CA squad, and Carters started the day relatively slowly, scoring only 81 runs in the 30 overs played before lunch.

But the run-rate picked up significantly in the afternoon session, after both players passed 50, and Finch won the race to a century, reaching three figures off 168 balls.

Carters followed soon after, and the carnage continued after the tea interval with New Zealand's spinners coming in for some heavy damage - Mark Craig went for 102 off 22 overs and Kane Williamson was going at nearly six an over.

Finch started to dominate the scoring and pull clear of his opening partner, connecting on five sixes, four of which came in his second hundred.

He passed 200 off 263 balls and added another 14 off his next seven balls before the close, with Carters unbeaten on 156 off 276 balls at the other end,

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New Zealand's hopes were not helped by the absence of seamer Tim Southee for most of the day - he bowled three overs for four runs early on Thursday before leaving the field with a stomach bug, with only wicket-keeper BJ Watling and former captain Ross Taylor not having a bowl.

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