Home
Former Australia captain Steve Smith constructed a masterpiece in Aaron Finch's last game for the country and once again gave a solid account of why he is one of the most important players in the Baggy Greens' white-ball set-up. 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.
After his wonderous century, Smith became the fourth-quickest batter in history to register 40 international hundreds. The former Aussie captain reached the mark in just 320 international innings.
