Struggling for rhythm and consistency during the IPL 2020 in UAE, Steve Smith said something just "clicked" three days before the start of the international home summer as the premier Australia batsman looked in supreme touch in the first ODI against India at the SCG on Friday (November 27).
Smith regained his form and flow scoring an impactful 66-ball 105 to take the hosts to an impregnable total of 374/6, which they later defended by 66 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series and fetch 10 crucial points towards the ICC Super League.
"Have been searching for something for a couple of months now. About three days ago something just clicked. My rhythm came back, everything came back," said Smith at the post-match presentation ceremony where he was given the 'Man of the Match' award.
The Australians won a crucial toss and opted to bat first on a surface playing relatively flat. They made most of the playing conditions as skipper Aaron Finch (114) too found his form back and made a solid ton, having earlier provided his team a superb start alongside David Warner (69).
Smith and Finch controlled the middle phase of the innings for the hosts and tackled spin twins Ravindra Jadeja (0/63) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/83) quite intelligently. Once Finch got out, Smith pressed on the accelerator and together with an explosive Glenn Maxwell (45) took the Aussies to an intimidating score.
The former captain acknowledged the support he got at the other end and said it played a part in him taking a few calculative risks.
"Finchy and Davey played very well early on. We could come in and be aggressive. Wasn't thinking too much out there, just seeing the ball and hitting it," he said.
"Was seeing the ball well. It was a good surface. I took a few more risks than I would normally. I targeted some bowlers and fortunately, it came off. Nice to contribute to a good win," Smith signed off.
For the Indians, only experienced pacer Mohammad Shami (3/59) could boast of some respectable figures by the end of the first half as Jasprit Bumrah (1/73) had a rare poor outing and Navdeep Saini's (1/83) control was a big issue.
With the bat, the visitors kept themselves ahead of the asking rate for better part of the innings, but wickets at the wrong time eventually held them back.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan (74) batted with great maturity while Hardik Pandya (90) proved those questioning his place as a specialist batsman wrong with an innings of high quality and range under pressure. Once those two went, however, the Indians lost their fight and ended with 308/8.
The second ODI will be played on Sunday (November 29).
(Inputs from ANI)
