AUS vs NZ: After Virat Kohli, Steve Smith Registers International Century After A Wait Of Almost Two Years
Updated - 11 Sep 2022, 06:21 PM
Just a few days after Virat Kohli broke the jinx and scored his 71st international century after a drought of over 1000 days in the Asia Cup 2022, Australia’s talismanic batsman Steve Smith too scored his first ODI ton after a wait of nearly two years.
The right-hand batting dynamo brought up his 12th ODI century off 127 balls with a clip to fine leg off Southee in the 44th over. It was Smith’s first ODI century since November 2020, when he made successive hundreds against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Steve Smith receives a standing ovation from the crowd
Apart from skipper Aaron Finch, Smith was given a standing ovation by the modest crowd at Cazaly Stadium as he walked off for the final time in ODIs, the most eventful thing happened in Australia’s 38th over.
During his stupendous innings, Steve Smith took James Neesham over square leg boundary for a six. It was given a no-ball after Smith reminded the umpires about the number of fielders outside the circle. Smith gestured dramatically to the square leg umpire that there were more fielders outside the circle. Neesham did well to recover with a slower ball bouncer dot from the free-hit.
Steve Smith launching a filthy slog over the fence because he knew it was a no-ball due to the number of fielders outside the circle ?#AUSvNZ #PlayOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/T3LFFjsCB8
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 11, 2022
Steve Smith’s talismanic innings propel Australia to a challenging total
Smith’s century lifted Australia to 267 for 5 after they were reduced to 16-2 in the sixth over. Steve Smith and Marnus(52) then combined for a 122-run stand that steadied the innings and another solid contribution from Alex Carey (42 not out) and a late quickfire cameo by Cameron Green lifted the target well beyond 250.
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