Finn is England’s go-to man
Steven Finn will today be named as the replacement for Chris Woakes in England’s Champions Trophy squad.
Woakes suffered a side strain after three overs of England’s opening game against Bangladesh and was ruled out of the tournament. England are turning to a player who was part of the side who reached the Trophy final four years ago, but has shown only hints of his best form recently.
The Middlesex fast bowler is currently playing for England Lions against South Africa A at Northampton, where he took two for 49 yesterday.
Finn has seen off the challenges of his Middlesex team-mate Toby RolandJones, as well as Surrey all-rounder Tom Curran and Stuart Broad.
Roland-Jones made his one-day international debut against South Africa last week. For Curran, 22, this tournament may have come too soon. Broad has not played one-day cricket for England in over a year, but there are no doubts over his experience.
Finn is less of a like-for-like replacement than the other three, who all offer more in the batting department. But England are concerned about replacing Woakes’s penetration with the new ball and, after a cautiously encouraging West Indies tour in March, the 28-yearold Finn has the chance to deliver on the promise he showed as a youngster.
An explosive 83-ball 129 from Liam Livingsone enhanced the Lancastrian’s growing reputation as England Lions beat South Africa A by 144 runs to take a decisive 2-0 lead in their three-match Royal London One-Day Series at Northampton.
James Vince’s side piled up 349 for seven thanks largely to contrasting innings from Livingstone, who hit 10 fours and eight sixes, and Dawid Ma- lan, whose 89-ball 84 included 13 fours and one six.
Livingstone’s maiden List A century was a violent affair, cleanly hit and spectacular, but he was dropped twice and rode his luck in front of the watch- ing England selectors, who are clearly considering the 23-year-old for a senior call-up this summer. Malan’s classy innings was the better, containing barely a false shot.
After South Africa A chose to bowl, Ben Duckett reached only two on his home ground before chipping to short midwicket. An in-ducker then trapped Daniel Bell-Drummond lbw for three.
Fresh from making an unbeaten 125 in the first game, Malan continued his excellent form but lost another partner when Vince lifted a pull to deep midwicket off Junior Dala.
Malan and Livingstone added 74 in 63 balls before Malan charged at Markram and offered Heino Kuhn a simple stumping to became one of four victims for off-spinner Aiden Markram (four for 45).
Livingstone and Dawson (26, 32 balls) clattered 98 in 12 overs, the former reaching a 68-ball century, the second 50 of which arrived from 24 balls, a third of which went for four or six.
Dawson holed out to deep squareleg but Livingstone responded by lifting Jason Smith over the candyfloss stall into a neighbouring garden before perishing, caught at long-on, in pursuit of his ninth six.
Craig Overton (34, 18 balls) and Tom Curran (28, 16) kept the pressure high with an unbroken stand of 50.
South Africa A were never in the hunt. Markram reached 50 (49 balls, eight fours, one six) but then edged Steven Finn. Nine balls later, Dawson turned one into JJ Smuts’ stumps, leaving the tourists on 81 for three. Steady decline followed with Dawson finishing with four for 41. A thoroughly dominant Lions display was rounded off when Jason Smith drove Finn into the hands of Vince at mid-off.
The teams contest their final oneday match tomorrow.