Steve Smith hits unconventional four off Wahab Riaz: The Australian batsman played several atypical shots in Canberra.
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During the second T20I of the ongoing Pakistan’s tour of Australia at Manuka Oval, Australia batsman Steve Smith played an unconventional shot for a boundary off Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz.
It all happened on the fourth delivery of the 18th over when Smith’s attempt of playing the upper cut saw him top-edging the ball towards the fine-leg boundary. Smith almost sealed the chase after hitting another four over mid-off on the following delivery.
In what another quintessential Smith boundary, he his a Mohammad Amir over the point in the most atypical manner in the previous over.
Smith’s fourth T20I half-century played a leading role in the hosts chasing down a 151-run target in the penultimate over. Coming in to bat at No. 3 in the fourth over, Smith ended up scoring 80* (51) with the help of 11 fours and a six.
With opening batsman David Warner (20) and captain Aaron Finch (17) getting out in the powerplay and Ben McDermott (21) and Ashton Turner (8*) not finding their best form, it was vital for Smith to stand tall on his potential and give his team a 1-0 lead in the series.
After Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bat, the visitors ended up scoring 150/6 in 20 overs. While Azam played well for his 50 (38), it was all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed who powered his team to a respectable total. Remaining unbeaten till the end, Ahmed scored 62* (34) with the help of five fours and three sixes.
With bowling figures of 4-0-23-2, Agar was the pick of the bowlers for Australia. Apart from him, fast bowlers Cummins and Kane Richardson took a wicket apiece.
Steve Smith hits unconventional four off Wahab Riaz:
This shot was pretty outrageous – Steve Smith seriously just makes it up as he goes! @alintaenergy | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/aMu4hEbIZl
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 5, 2019
How Twitter reacted:
How?!?#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/yYINNqbyRl
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 5, 2019
Masterful! 🔥#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/K9qs9TK2hL
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 5, 2019
The gap that Smith just pierced there doesn’t even exist. #AUSvsPAK
— Danyal Rasool (@Danny61000) November 5, 2019
The greatness of Steve Smith is that he’s always getting better. He came into the home summer with an T20I avg of 21.55 & SR of 122.44. But you just knew he won’t let it languish there. He’s already taken the average to 27.47 & SR to 128.79 in just 3 innings #AUSvPAK @cricbuzz
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 5, 2019
Steve Smith. Irrepressible.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 5, 2019
smith is an utterly ridiculous genius #AUSvsPAK
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) November 5, 2019
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