Swashbuckling Australian batsman Steve Smith geared up for the two-match Test series against Pakistan with a century for New South Wales against Tasmania on Tuesday at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney.
However, this was Smith’s slowest of the 42 first-class centuries. The 30-year-old reached the milestone from 290 deliveries. His previous slowest century came from 261 deliveries against England at the Gabba in 2017.
The No.1 Test batsman scored 103 runs from 295 deliveries before getting out in a bizarre fashion.
The New South Wales’ batsman tried to play an uppercut off all-round Marcus Stoinis’ delivery when the wicketkeeper Josh Inglis was standing up (near the stumps). The umpire adjudged him out but Smith’s reaction suggested that he had not edged the ball to the wicketkeeper.
He shared a 141 run-stand for the third wicket with Moises Henriques. His innings was studded nine fours and two sixes. New South Wales posted 444 for eight wickets in the first innings with Daniel Hughes, Daniel Solway, Henriques and Pat Cummins scoring half-centuries.
Recently, Smith made a comeback to T20I cricket with a bang scoring two half-centuries in three innings including a match-winning unbeaten 51-ball 80 against Pakistan.
The Tim Paine-led Australia go up against newly-appointed Pakistan skipper, Azhar Ali’s brigade in the first Test of the series at the Gabba, Brisbane starting November 21.
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