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Former Australia captain Steve Smith constructed a masterpiece in Aaron Finch's last ODI game for the country as the Baggy Greens registered a convincing 25-run win against New Zealand in the third and final ODI of the series. Courtesy of the win, Australia whitewashed the Black Caps in the three-match ODI series.
On a sluggish and extremely challenging wicket, Smith's tenaciousness was on full display as the right-hander, in his fidgety style, swaggered to a tremendous century against New Zealand in the third ODI at the Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns. The stylish batter, who thrives in adverse conditions, played a remarkable knock of 105 runs in 131 balls and helped Australia post a decent total of 267/5 in 50 overs.
After the Black Caps captain, Kane Williamson asked Australia to bat first, the focus shifted to Finch, who was playing his international match. Finch, however, failed to arrest his poor run of form with the bat and departed after scoring just five runs off 13 balls after his new opening partner Josh Inglis (10 runs off 16 balls) fell cheaply.
Smith, who walked in to bat at number three, was joined by Marnus Labuschagne after Finch's dismissal, and the right-handed batters steadied Australia's ship by mixing caution with aggression on a two-paced strip. The duo registered a 118-run stand for the third wicket before Labuschagne (52 runs off 78 balls) was caught by Trent Boult off Lockie Ferguson's bowling.
Smith was undeterred by his partner's dismissal and found an able ally in Alex Carey (42 not out off 43 balls), with whom he registered a 69-run stand. Smith soon notched his 12th ODI ton and he reached the milestone with the help of 11 fours and a six. Just when the stylish batter was set to unleash in death overs, Mitchell Santner struck timber and sent Smith back to the hut.
In reply to Australia's score, New Zealand's innings never got going as the visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The Kiwi openers - Finn Allen (35 runs off 38 balls) and Devon Conway (21 runs off 26 balls) - got starts but gifted their wickets away after getting set.
Kiwi captain Williamson continued to struggle to get any sort of impetus into his innings and walked back to the pavillion after scoring 27 runs off 56 balls. After being restricted to 112/5, the writing was on the wall for the Black Caps but Glen Phillips and James Neesham combined to infuse some life back into the contest.
The duo registered a 61-run stand for the sixth wicket before Neesham (36 runs off 34 balls) lost his wicket. Phillips (47 runs off 53 balls) and Mitchell Santner (30 runs off 33 ball) then kept chipping away at the runs column but the Aussie bowling attack proved too good for the Kiwi batters in the end.
Led by Mitchell Starc's 3/60, Australia bundled out New Zealand for 242/10 in 49.5 overs. Cameron Green and Sean Abbott chipped in with two wickets each.
