As though breaking the record for highest ODI score at the SCG wasn't enough, Steve Smith produced arguably his finest moment of the contest in the field - producing an outrageous one-handed catch at gully to dismiss New Zealand's BJ Watling.
Watling lashed a cut shot at head height to Smith's left off the bowling of Mitch Marsh, only to see the man who had scored 164 earlier in the day dive full length to pouch the ball in his fingertips before securing it against his body as he fell heavily to the ground.
As though breaking the record for highest ODI score at the SCGwasn't enough, Steve Smith produced arguably his finest moment of the contest in the field - producing an outrageous one-handed catch at gully to dismiss New Zealand's BJ Watling.
Watling lashed a cut shot at head height to Smith's left off the bowling of Mitch Marsh, only to see the man who had scored 164 earlier in the day dive full length to pouch the ball in his fingertips before securing it against his body as he fell heavily to the ground.
The wicket left New Zealand 4-140, chasing Australia's total of 324. It was Smith's second catch of the evening, having earlier taken a routine chance at first slip to dismiss Kane Williamson.
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill bludgeoned 114 from 102 balls to keep the Black Caps' hopes alive for a time but once he fell – to a juggled catch by substitute fielder Glenn Maxwell, who was congratulated immediately by Matthew Wade – a run chase of 325 was highly ambitious. In the end, Australia prevailed by 68 runs, snapping a five-game losing streak in ODIs to take a 1-0 series lead.
Smith was man of the match by the length of the straight. Aside from the aforementioned screamer he also completed a very sharp grab of a ball that had rocketed off the edge of Kane Williamson's bat towards him at first slip. The catch was was deserving of highlight-reel status itself had it not been overshadowed by his other deeds.
