Player of the Match
Player of the Match

That's it from Canberra. Smith too good and Australia go 1-0 up. Both sides head to Perth for the final match of the series on Friday at Perth Stadium. On behalf of our team, hope you can join us then.

Presentation Babar Azam: "We are disappointed. Steve Smith took the match away. He played a magnificent innings. It's very difficult when we lose early wickets. We have to gain the momentum again. Credit goes to Iftikhar the way he played. It's a good knock."

Aaron Finch: "I thought we were pretty good all day. The way we kept taking wickets throughout the innings was really important because we know how damaging Pakistan can be in the powerplay or at the end so to get wickets consistently I think was the key to the day. We've got guys like Steve, who does what he does better than anyone else in the world."

Steve Smith is the Player of the Match: "It was nice to be there at the end and get the boys home. I thought the bowlers set it up early. It was probably a 170 wicket I reckon at least. They bowled beautifully. Then it was just about timing the run and fortunately I was able to do that tonight."

Australia win by seven wickets with nine balls to spare. That was a clinic from Steve Smith. That's why he's in this team. Nervy chases when they lose early wickets are his bread and butter. He took control and picked Pakistan apart. He didn't get much help but he didn't need it. Pakistan lost this with the bat in reality as 150 was nowhere near enough. Amir and Irfan caused some trouble early getting Warner and Finch but they couldn't stop Smith.

Tridib: "I am almost certain Steve Smith isn't human."

Hamza: "My God, Smith has been unstoppable this year, what has he been eating? The difference between the two teams today was Smith and Smith alone or else Pakistan could have defended this target "

ed: "Chris Martin will be ok so long as Steve Smith is at the other end"

18.3
1
Mohammad Amir to Turner, 1 run, 139kph, full wide of off, he square drives and a misfield at backward point allows the winning run
18.2
1
Mohammad Amir to Smith, 1 run, full on leg stump, he whips this powerfully behind square to the sweeper
18.2
1w
Mohammad Amir to Smith, 1 wide, bouncer that it way too high and this is called. Correct call this time
18.1
0
Mohammad Amir to Smith, no run, 141kph, fired down the leg side and not called wide. Smith was bemused. He did step across a touch but not much

END OF OVER:
18 | 12 Runs | AUS: 148/3 (3 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.22, RRR: 1.50)

  • Steven Smith79 (49b)
  • Ashton Turner7 (14b)
  • Wahab Riaz3-0-33-0
  • Mohammad Amir3-0-29-1

DaMan: "This shows the value of guys like Root, Williamson and Smith in T20 where sometimes you don't need constant six hitters to win the game, someone who knows how to pace an innings. Not including Kohli because no one ever questions his place in a team, ever ;)"

17.6
1
Wahab Riaz to Smith, 1 run, 113kph, slower ball, outside off, he punches off the back foot to cover
17.5
4
Wahab Riaz to Smith, FOUR, thumped over mid off! Contemptuous shot. Length outside off, he set his base and smashed it up and over mid off.
17.4
4
Wahab Riaz to Smith, FOUR, 117kph, slower ball bouncer, he tries to upper cut, gets it off the edge of the bat and it flies to fine leg for four! Everything working for Smith

Ahmar jami: "Turner is proving to be a Game 'Turner', but working against Australia" He's not fluent tonight, that's for sure

17.3
2
Wahab Riaz to Smith, 2 runs, 139kph, full and he punches straight down the ground past the bowler for a couple
17.2
0
Wahab Riaz to Smith, no run, slower ball outside off, he leans back and misses
17.1
1
Wahab Riaz to Turner, 1 run, nearly runs himself out! He just bunted it to mid off and ran, Haris waltzes in from cover, picks up only needs to hit and missed! Turner was miles out

Wahab back

END OF OVER:
17 | 15 Runs | AUS: 136/3 (15 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.00, RRR: 5.00)

  • Steven Smith68 (44b)
  • Ashton Turner6 (13b)
  • Mohammad Amir3-0-29-1
  • Shadab Khan4-0-25-0
16.6
4
Mohammad Amir to Smith, FOUR, back foot square drive over point! The best of the lot! Ridiculous. Full and wide, he's leaning back and slicing this over point. It went like a bullet to the rope. He's a phenomenon.
16.5
4
Mohammad Amir to Smith, FOUR, dissects the gap again past mid off! Incredible skill. Wide of off, he sat but and drives a full ball off the back foot, placing it in the gap. Stunning
16.5
1w
Mohammad Amir to Smith, 1 wide, 122kph, slower ball bouncer and this one is called wide for too high. Amir is frustrated with that call
16.4
4
Mohammad Amir to Smith, FOUR, smashed wide of mid off! Wide outside off, he steps back and gives room to smear it through the gap between cover and mid off!
16.3
1
Mohammad Amir to Turner, 1 run, 141kph, full outside off, he shovels a square drive with no timing to deep point
16.2
0
Mohammad Amir to Turner, no run, 138kph, wide half-volley and it's not called wide. It was tight to the line but the bowler gets the call

Australia 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st30AJ FinchDA Warner
2nd18AJ FinchSPD Smith
3rd58SPD SmithBR McDermott
4th45SPD SmithAJ Turner