<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Aaron Finch stormed back to form with 63 as Australia made 179-5 against Ireland in their crucial Twenty20 World Cup Group 1 match at the Gabba in Brisbane on Monday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Finch hit his runs off just 44 deliveries to answer a growing number of critics who have called for the Australian captain to be dropped after a poor run of form.</div><div><br></div><div>Finch stayed patient as Australia lost their first three wickets to some tight bowling.</div><div><br></div><div>He then took advantage as the Irish attack began to falter under the pressure of an onslaught from Finch and Marcus Stoinis, who blasted 35 off 25 balls.</div><div><br></div><div>After winning the toss and choosing to bowl, Ireland restricted the home side to eight runs off the first two overs.</div><div><br></div><div>On the first ball of the third over David Warner shovelled a Barry McCarthy ball round the corner to short fine leg, where Mark Adair took a comfortable catch.</div><div><br></div><div>Finch looked scratchy at the beginning of his innings but signalled his intent with a huge six over deep midwicket in the fifth over.</div><div><br></div><div>He was joined by Mitchell Marsh, who hit two sixes on his way to 28 from 22 balls before getting a thick edge off McCarthy to wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker to leave Australia 60-2 in the ninth over.</div><div><br></div><div>Opening bowler Joshua Little then enticed the dangerous Glenn Maxwell to chase a wide ball, giving Tucker his second catch and Australia were 84-3 after 11 overs.</div><div><br></div><div>Finch kept scoring steadily, reaching his 50 with a six off Adair in an over that went for 26 runs before eventually falling, caught at deep midwicket by Adair off the bowling of McCarthy. - AFP&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>