Is there anything Steve Smith can't do?
Not content with making an exhilarating 164, the highest score seen in a one-day international at the SCG, a wonder catch of jaw-dropping proportions elevated the Australian captain's evening to new heights on Sunday.
Half an hour earlier, the television broadcaster had been running through a series of outstanding grabs from the past, as they do, among the clips a left-handed take by a sprinting Matthew Sinclair in the very first Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match under the roof in Melbourne 12 years ago.
Smith's number, also grasped with the left hand with a diving effort at backward point that earned him a face full of grass and a back full of pats from astonished teammates, was every bit as good, maybe better. "When you're on you're on, I guess," Smith said after the match. "I was lucky with that one that stuck. They either stick or they don't and that one did."
These things are in the eye of the beholder but the gasps heard around the ground with each replay on the big screens demonstrated what a breathtaking example of athleticism and judgment Smith's was. The batsman, for detail's sake, was BJ Watling, the bowler Mitch Marsh. But the moment was all Smith's.
The same could just about be said for the match. New Zealand opener Martin Guptill bludgeoned 114 from 102 balls to keep the Black Caps' hopes alive for a time but once he fell – to a juggled catch by substitute fielder Glenn Maxwell, who was congratulated immediately by Matthew Wade – a run chase of 325 was highly ambitious. In the end, Australia prevailed by 68 runs, snapping a five-game losing streak in ODIs to take a 1-0 series lead.
Smith was man of the match by the length of the straight. Aside from the aforementioned screamer he also completed a very sharp grab of a ball that had rocketed off the edge of Kane Williamson's bat towards him at first slip. The catch was was deserving of highlight-reel status itself had it not been overshadowed by his other deeds.
He had been given a standing ovation from the crowd of 22,502 earlier after a dazzling seventh ODI century compiled over all but 19 balls of the Australian innings of 8-324. "It was nice to get a big score on my home ground," Smith said. "I love playing here. It's a great place to play and a great place to play in front of my family, they're all here."
Until Sunday, the highest ODI score at the SCG had been made by South Africa's AB de Villiers, with the fastest 150 ever in 50-over internationals during the World Cup last year. De Villiers' 162 against the West Indies came off only 66 balls. Smith took 157 for his destructive knock but passed the South African's record score shortly before skying a ball that was held by Colin Munro.
The same New Zealand fielder had dropped Smith at square leg 12 runs earlier but it was a pair of missed opportunities earlier in the afternoon that cost the tourists badly. Kiwis wicketkeeper Watling missed a tough chance to catch the Australian captain down the leg side when he was on 13, and with Smith only adding one more run the Black Caps again could have had their man.
Lone hand: Martin Guptill salutes the crowd after reaching his century. Photo: AP
Smith was given not out following an lbw appeal from Trent Boult but if New Zealand captain Williamson had chosen to review the decision it would have been overturned. Give Smith an inch and he'll take a mile and that is exactly what he did after that pair of close shaves. He added an extra 150 to his own score from there and enjoyed healthy partnerships with Travis Head (52 from 60 balls) and a free-flowing Wade (38 from 22) to drive Australia to a position of authority from which they were always going to be difficult to shift.
Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 3-49 from his 10 overs.
