Smith slams 164 in Australia’s 324-8

Australia head into the three-game limited-overs Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, starting Sunday in Sydney, on the back of that 2-1 series loss to the Proteas while New Zealand arrive fresh from a 2-0 Test sweep against Pakistan.

New Zealand will lock horns with rivals Australia in the first of their 3-match One-day International (ODI) series in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy at Sydney Cricket Ground here on Sunday.

New Zealand’s clumsy effort in the field opened the door for Australia to claim first blood in the one-day series, in-form opener Martin Guptill says.

Colin Munro (49), Neesham (34) and Matt Henry (27) were the only other Black Caps batsmen to pass double figures. Australia captain Steven Smith was yet again in the thick of action, for he registered his highest individual score of 164 and that too at his home ground. The last time these teams met on Australian soil was the small matter of the World Cup Final, a match effectively ended with the fifth delivery.

“So there’s no doubt we’ll be trying to hold onto that”.

Guptill will be a key wicket for game two of the three-match series at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Tuesday.

The return of Faulkner and Hazlewood is big, but Starc’s inclusion is massive.

“If he gets on a surface that offers a bit of up and down (bounce) he can challenge the Australian batting line-up”.

He snaffled Williamson at slip then tore off a stunner at gully to dismiss the elevated BJ Watling.

Smith said he had a hunch a catch was coming his way.

Plucky New Zealand eye history against Australia was posted in Sports of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on December 04, 2016 and was last updated on December 04, 2016.

Mitchell Santner throws during a New Zealand training session.

Guptill looked imperious at the crease until he mishit a half-tracker from leg spinner Adam Zampa (2 for 66 from 10 overs) to mid-wicket and his dismissal meant the contest was essentially over.

David Warner (24) looked to be well set before also chopping on as Lockie Ferguson (1-73) claimed his first global wicket.

It was a torrid introduction for the speedster after a lively start when he anchored George Bailey with four successive 150kmh offerings.

It was a let-off New Zealand were made to pay for as Smith recorded his best score in the format and the highest by any player in an ODI at the SCG, breaking AB de Villiers’ 162 not out for South Africa against the West Indies past year.

Questioned about how Australia had approached preparing for the relatively unknown Ferguson, Smith said that ultimately it was crucial to do the fundamentals well regardless of a bowler’s identity.

He was also grateful for the indecision among the New Zealand ranks after Trent Boult appealed for an lbw when Smith had made 14 – Kane Williamson chose not to review, possibly on the suggestion of a team-mate that there was bat involved, only for Hawk-Eye to show it would have been overturned on DRS.