Australia vs New Zealand, 1st ODI: Steven Smith’s stunning 164 powers World No. 1 to 324/8

Australia post 324 for 8 in the first 50-over contest against New Zealand in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy riding on Steven Smith‘s stunning 164 at Sydney Cricket Ground. After calling it right at the toss, Australian captain unhesitatingly chose to bat. Given the track appeared a featherbed for the batters, Australia aimed to reach the psychological 300-run mark. However, pacer Matt Henry knocked over Aaron Finch with an absolute jaffa, for a golden duck. Henry pitched it slightly outside off, making Finch play on the up. The inward movement produced an inside edge and uprooted the stumps. Smith joined his deputy David Warner in the middle.

Despite the early inroads, Warner played his strokes to put New Zealand on the back foot. For that matter, it took only 3 balls for him to score his first boundary. All the same, New Zealand pacers bowled disciplined line and length, trying to keep Warner’s rampage at bay. But Warner left no stone unturned to keep the scoreboard ticking every time there was a loose delivery on offer. He even took the debutant Lockie Ferguson to the cleaners, hitting two boundaries off his maiden international over. Nonetheless, Ferguson had the last laugh, for he dismantled Warner’s defence off the last ball of the over. Indeed, a dream debut for the 25-year-old.

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs New Zealand 1st ODI at Sydney

To put Australia in further enigma, New Zealand dismissed George Bailey and Mitchell Marsh in quick succession. The scorecard read 92 for 4 after 20.1 overs. The onus was then on captain Smith and Travis Head to steady the sinking ship.

Smith, who scored a remarkable hundred, in the last series looked in ominous touch. Though his team was under pressure, he made sure he coupled boundaries with ones and two, leaving the New Zealand fielders tired. On the other hand, Head played his strokes down the ground and put a price on his wicket.

The duo added 127 for the 5th wicket off 126 balls before Trent Boult dismissed Head for 52. To simply put, Boult took an absolute blinder to break the all-important partnership. As Head pushed one in the air, Boult (mind you, off his own bowling) dived forward and took a brilliant low catch.

Meanwhile, Smith, with his shuffle-across technique, made New Zealand bowlers dance to his own tune. A pull over deep-wicket, sweep over deep square-leg, fluent cover-drives, elegant scythes past point: Smith was at his absolute best. And as fate would have it, he reached his 7th ODI ton with ease and grace.

Australia were 223 for 5 after 43 overs.

With Mathew Wade at the other end, Smith had the license to use his blade to blasting effect. And Smith targeted Boult to commence the death-over blitz, as he dispatched Boult’s slower delivery over leg-side boundary.

Wade later joined the party and smacked one (in baseball style) over deep mid-wicket. That’s not it. There was no stopping Wade. He bludgeoned two more maximums in the same over — the best one was the scoop over fine-leg.

The onslaught had begun. Australia were on fire. And New Zealand were in search of a breakthrough. But Smith’s onslaught was difficult to contain, for he pulled a back-of-length delivery over square-leg boundary. For a change, the man who has a reputation of piercing gaps was clearing the field with comfort; the man who thrived on fours was dealing in sixes.

New Zealand bowlers, on the other hand, failed to get their act together. But even the best have faltered when the best of the batsmen are on song. And New Zealand were simply victimised by Smith’s genius.

The crowd was on its feet as they witnessed the Smith show. Not only did he score his maiden 150 but also registered highest individual score at the SCG (his home ground), surpassing AB de Villiers’ 162. New Zealand have a big task in hand to chase down the total.

Brief scores:

Australia 324/8 (Steven Smith 164 (157), Travid Head 52 (60); Trent Boult 2 for 51) vs New Zealand

(Kaustubh S. Mayekar, a reporter at CricketCountry, played cricket at U-16 level. Like his idol Rahul Dravid, he often shadow-practises cricket shots. His Twitter handle is @kaumedy_)