Smith’s record ton leads Aussies to win over Kiwis

Sydney, December 4 

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 ODI series opener.

The Australia skipper smashed 164, the highest ODI score at the Sydney Cricket Ground, to lead Australia to 324/8. Man of the match Smith struck 14 fours and four sixes in his seventh ODI century to give the Black Caps a tough target to chase down. The Kiwis were dismissed for 256 in 44.2 overs.

Smith also took two decisive catches in the Black Caps innings. It was his throat-high catch at slip that got a big breakthrough, dispatching skipper Kane Williamson for nine. He later latched on to a flying one-handed screamer to dismiss BJ Watling for six off Mitchell Marsh, hurling himself to his left at gully for a stunning catch. Earlier, Martin Guptill raised his 11th ODI century — AFP 

Brief scores: Aus: 324/8 (Smith 164, Head 52); NZ: 256 (Guptill 114, Hazlewood 3/49). 

164 Runs by Steve Smith vs New Zealand in the first ODI is the joint highest by an Australia captain. Ricky Ponting had made 164 vs South Africa at Wanderers in 2006.