Share

Smith ton guides Australia in ODI decider against India

Bangalore - Steve Smith struck his first one-day international century since his ball-tampering ban as Australia posted 286 for nine in the third and deciding match against India on Sunday.

Smith made 131 and put on 127 runs for the third wicket with Marnus Labuschagne to lay the foundation for Australia's total after they elected to bat in Bangalore.

Smith followed up his 98 in the second match with his ninth ODI hundred and his first since January 2017 -- a period during which he served a one-year ban between March 2018 to 2019.

Indian bowlers checked Australia's surge in the end with paceman Mohammed Shami returning figures of 4-63.

He struck first to send David Warner trudging back to the pavilion for three after the left-handed opener edged to wicketkeeper KL Rahul.

Aaron Finch and Smith started to build, but their partnership was cut short by a big mix up between the two batsmen with the captain being run out.

Smith played the ball to short third man and Finch ran for a single only to get stuck with his partner at the striker's end, and fell well short of the crease while trying to make it back.

Smith kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and twos and the occasional boundary with partner Labuschagne, who got a maiden ODI fifty after making his debut in the opening match of the series.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership with the wicket of Labuschagne for 54, and struck twice in his ninth over to pull Australia back.

Labuschagne was caught at cover with skipper Virat Kohli taking a stunner while diving to his right, and three balls later Mitchell Starc, promoted to number five, was out for nought.

Bowlers hit back to rattle the opposition middle-order, but Smith kept up the charge from his end before falling to Shami.

Shami struck again in the over, bowling Pat Cummins for duck with a yorker.

India were dealt an early blow when Shikhar Dhawan injured his shoulder while fielding in the fifth over and stayed off the field. He was taken for an X-ray.

Indian players wore black armbands to honour the country's most economical bowler, Bapu Nadkarni, who died in Mumbai at the age of 86 on Friday.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1843 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1810 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1100 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 470 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 193 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 261 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE