Smith record century leads Aussies to ODI win

AFP: Steve Smith hit a record-breaking century and took two superb catches as Australia beat New Zealand by 68 runs in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day series opener in Sydney on Sunday.

The Australia skipper smashed 164 off 157 balls, the highest one-day international score at the Sydney Cricket Ground, to lead Australia to 324 for eight.

Man of the match Smith struck 14 fours and four sixes in his seventh ODI century after winning the toss to give the Black Caps a tough target to chase down.

Smith then took two great catches and paceman Josh Hazlewood claimed three wickets to dismiss the Kiwis for 256 in 44.2 overs.

Smith’s knock, the seventh highest by an Australian, surpassed South Africa’s AB de Villiers’ 162 at the same ground in last year’s World Cup.

It was also the joint-highest by an Australia captain. Ricky Ponting also made 164 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2006.

He then underlined his man-of-the-match qualities with two decisive catches in the Black Caps’ innings.

It was his throat-high catch at slip that got a big breakthrough to dismiss skipper Kane Williamson for just nine. 

Smith later latched onto a flying one-handed screamer to dismiss BJ Watling for six off Mitchell Marsh, hurling himself to his left in the gully for a stunning catch. 

Opener Martin Guptill raised his 11th ODI century with a mighty six off Marsh over long-on off 93 balls and was his side’s major hope of reeling in Australia’s huge target.

But leg-spinner Adam Zampa coaxed Guptill into a false shot to find fielding substitute Glenn Maxwell at mid-wicket and he was on his way for 114 off 102 balls in the 33rd over.

Jimmy Neesham put on 92 runs for the third stand with Guptill before he holed out to Hazlewood off Mitchell Starc in the 22nd over.

The second match in the series takes place at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Tuesday.