Steven Smith equals Ricky Ponting’s ODI record, Australia crush New Zealand

Steven Smith blasted a magnificent 164 as Australia thrashed New Zealand by 68 runs in the first ODI of the Chappell-Hadlee series in Sydney on Sunday.

Steven Smith, the Australia skipper, put on a record-breaking show in the first One-day International of the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand in Sydney on Sunday, handing Australia a 68-run win in the opening game of the three-match series.

Steven Smith equalled Ricky Ponting’s record as he put on a record-breaking show for Australia in the first ODI against New Zealand in Sydney. (Getty Images)

The star of the show was Smith, who blasted 164 off 157 balls and shared a 127-run stand with Travis Head, who made 52. New Zealand leaked 113 runs in the last 10 overs, and the onslaught allowed Australia to finish on 324/8.

New Zealand opener Martin Guptill struck a brilliant 114, but it was not enough as pacer Josh Hazlewood picked up 3/49 and Pat Cummins (2/62), Mitchell Marsh (2/38) and leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2/66) also shared the wickets.

New Zealand will be cursing their luck on the field. Smith was dropped on 12 when he tried to glance a full delivery on the pads from Trent Boult, but wicketkeeper BJ Watling put down a difficult chance. In the same over, on 14, New Zealand unsuccessfully appealed for a leg before. They did not use the Decision Review system, but replays suggested the ball had pitched in line and would have hit the stumps. These two lucky escapes were enough for the Australian skipper to cash in.

Steven Smith scored his first century against New Zealand as Australia achieved a 68-run win in Sydney.

Although Smith struggled to get going after David Warner, George Bailey and Mitchell Marsh fell cheaply, the Aussie skipper never lost focus. He found good support in Head and they rebuilt the innings. He got going with two boundaries off debutant Lockie Ferguson and made smooth progress towards his century. In the 37th over, he glanced Ferguson to fine leg to bring up his first century against New Zealand.

After reaching the landmark, Smith took total control. He slammed a boundary and six off Ferguson, and followed it up with two big sixes off Boult. He eventually fell on 164 after mistiming a cut shot against Boult and Colin Munro took the catch at midwicket.

Steven Smith notched up the fourth-highest individual total in an ODI in Australia

Records tumble

Steven Smith broke several records in the course of his knock. He achieved the highest individual score at the Sydney Cricket Ground in an ODI and equalled Ricky Ponting’s record for the highest score by an Australia captain. Ponting scored 164 in the epic game at Johannesburg in 2006 when South Africa overhauled Australia’s 434 to win by one wicket with a ball to spare.

Smith went past AB de Villiers’ score of 162, the highest individual ODI score at the Sydney ground made in the league game against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup. In that match, de Villiers scored the fastest 150 in ODIs as South Africa became the first team to score over 400 in an ODI in Australia.

Steven Smith now has the highest individual score in an ODI in Sydney, beating AB de Villiers’ 162 against West Indies in Sydney in 2015.

Smith also achieved the fourth-highest individual score in an ODI in Australia. David Warner holds the record, having smashed 178 against Afghanistan at Perth in the 2015 World Cup.

He also became the second Australia captain, after Ponting, to go past 1000 runs in ODIs in a calendar year.