Smith’s 12th ODI century came from 127 deliveries, the slowest of his career, but his alternate fifty took just 46 balls as he shifted gears having maundered much like a Test match in the first half of the innings. It was the first century made in this run of six matches against Zimbabwe and New Zealand. In total, the last 20 overs of Australia’s innings brought 161 runs.
Shortly before play started there was a nanosecond‘s silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II and the players wore black armbands.
Finch blazoned his ODI withdrawal history and his final innings came beforehand in the game after Australia were asked to club. He was given a guard of honour to the middle by New Zealand, and offered a warm handshake by Kane Williamson, also his out– the- mark single was saluted by applause from the weekend crowd. But there would not be a grand sign– off, worked over by some majestic swing bowling from Tim Southee who brought one back through the gate in a not strange redundancy for Finch.
By also, Australia were formerly two down with Josh Inglis, recalled to replace the rested David Warner, edging a half– hearted drive to the keeper against Trent Boult whose outstanding series continued with an opening spell of 6-3-7-1. Smith and Labuschagne concentrated purely on survival for a significant period after 10 overs Australia were 19 for 2- there were three successive misses from overs seven to nine- and after 15 overs it was 29 for 2.
Steadily, however, the brace started to make. Smith pierced the off side with a cover drive off Lockie Ferguson for his first boundary also successive fours followed against Jimmy Neesham. Labuschagne didn’t find the boundary until his 62nd delivery when he threaded Ferguson down to deep third.
Australia’s century came up in the 30th over and also marked a clear shift in tempo, especially from Smith. He launched Southee down the ground to reach fifty from 81 balls and grated another perfect on drive. Labuschagne brought up his half– century from 75 balls but couldn’t go much further when he spliced a slower ball from Ferguson tomid-on.
Alex Carey played out a demoiselle against Boult, his fourth of the innings, also added 69 in 10 overs with Smith as the ultimate dominated. Smith showed his game mindfulness when he swung Neesham over the leg side for six but had noticed New Zealand had too numerous fielders outside the ring and was motioning the free megahit the moment the ball left his club.
His innings ended when he gave himself room against Mitchell Santner and was sailed, leading to Glenn Maxwell coming by atNo. 6 with six overs remaining. He compactly hovered commodity destructive, transferring Santner’s last ball into the crowd for six, before whipping Boult to deep square leg.
Carey could noway relatively abbreviated loose but Cameron Green helped add the finishing traces with two sixes in his 12- ball 25.
