Steve Smith distraught after bizarre dismissal in Sheffield Shield game
Steve Smith has been batting well across formats since his return to action for Australia after a 12-month ban for a ball-tampering scandal. The right-handed batsman is currently gearing up for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, starting November 21. Smith is playing in the Sheffield Shield and the Aussie was distraught after a bizarre dismissal. Here's more.
Smith smashed a gritty 103 from 295 balls as NSW declared at a score of 444/8. He consumed 295 deliveries and smashed nine fours and two sixes. This was his slowest century of his First-Class career as he took 290 balls for his 42nd ton. The next slowest ton of Smith's career was a 261-ball century at the Gabba in the 2017/18 Ashes series.
Besides Smith's 103, NSW saw Daniel Hughes (53), Daniel Solway (65), Moises Henriques (91) and Pat Cummins (52) get the bulk of runs. Smith shared a 82-runs stand for the second wicket with Solway. He also added 141 runs for the third wicket with Moises Henriques. D'Arcy Short (2/39) was the pick of the bowlers for Western Australia. In reply, WA are on 85/1.
However, the right-handed Smith got out in a bizarre fashion as the umpire judged him caught out when he was trying to play an uppercut off Marcus Stoinis' delivery. Wicket-keeper Josh Inglis was standing up (near the stumps). The decision from the umpire left the Australian cricketer stunned as he was clearly not happy with the dismissal. But Smith did his job by then.
NEVER tell Steve Smith he has to stop batting!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 12, 2019
A bizarre dismissal brings the right-hander's 42nd first-class century to an end #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/KNEDpjtiFp
Smith has had an exceptional 2019 so far, with 774 runs in just four Tests. His feats include three centuries and as many half-centuries across seven innings in the Ashes 2019. Notably, Smith is the top run-scorer in Tests this year. He will now be turning his attention towards Pakistan and one hopes to see him score freely against Babar Azam's men.
