We’ll target Black Caps skipper: Smith

Australia were in their elements as they beat New Zealand by 68 runs in the first ODI to take a lead in the three-match series.

Smith went on to score 164 to power Australia to 324 for 8 in their fifty overs and a century from Guptill wasn’t enough to get the Black Caps over the line.

Smith’s century on Sunday was the highest in ODIs at the SCG, surpassing AB de Villiers’ brilliant 162 off 66 balls against the West Indies at the 2015 World Cup.

Australia’s Steve Smith plays at a high ball against New Zealand.

The good news for New Zealand is that they had one batsman who looked every bit as risky as Smith at the SCG, but unfortunately for them, Martin Guptill couldn’t go quite as deep into the innings as Smith, and fell for 114 off 102 balls.

The Black Caps have lost the first Chappell-Hadlee One-Day-International against Australia in Sydney.

“Moreso the way I look at the game and the way I start my innings and I think that’s going to be a big change heading into this innings and make sure I get into the game, not throw it away too early”.

Asked if the rift between Maxwell and Wade had been closed, Smith said: “I think they’re OK”.

This Chappell-Hadlee series slots into a tightly-packed worldwide schedule for Australia this summer, in between the country’s two home Test series against South Africa and Pakistan. 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.

That stand was ended with the departure to rapturous applause of Smith, who miscued a Trent Boult delivery high into the air over midwicket which Munro managed to hold onto.

“If we reflect back, we bowled poorly in the middle stage”. “We were good in patches, not so good in some”.

Head’s 52 off 60 balls was vital in the context of Australia’s innings on Sunday as he and Smith came together at 4-94 before putting on 127 for the fifth wicket.

Given all the off-field talk, the first ODI was perhaps the best chance for New Zealand to lay into Australia and claim the early advantage. 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.

Before New Zealand could absorb the enjoyment of having won their test series against Pakistan, they find themselves in the midst of having to defend the Chappell-Hadlee trophy.

The day belonged to Steve Smith, who scored a record-breaking 164 to set up the victory fir Australia.