Steve Smith’s ever-growing reputation as the second coming of the greatest ever batsman has been based on his Test match heroics, but a scintillating 80 not out off 51 balls offered a timely reminder that he is just as ruthless when the ball is white.
For the first time in Australia’s complete domination of T20 internationals this summer, they lost both openers inside the power play, but the middle-order engine room led by Smith stepped in to engineer another convincing seven-wicket victory.
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Pakistan attacked Smith hard, but his counter-attack was ruthless and the batting phenomenon smashed 11 fours and a six to complete the successful chase of 150 with nine balls to spare and put Australia 1-0 up with one final game to go in Perth on Friday.
When Ben McDermott was trapped lbw by Imad Wasim for 21 the door was left slightly ajar for Pakistan with 42 needed off the last 36, before Smith took the game away from them in the final six overs with some clinical stroke play.
McDermott was frustrated that ball tracking was unavailable for his decision review after a human error from the scorer affected the technology.
He looked out anyway and for the first time this summer, Australia felt some pressure after destroyers David Warner (20 off 11) and Aaron Finch (17 off 14) built another platform, but couldn’t go on with the job.
It wasn’t a bad result for Australia though, who for the first time this summer got a proper look at some of their other role players.
HE’S OUT
When David Warner dispatched Imad Wasim to the fence four times in the second over of the chase, it looked like another case of shut the gate.
Warner had not been dismissed in his four international innings this summer against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, but finally the Bull was tamed.
World class Pakistan quick Mohammad Amir took Warner’s middle stump with a beautiful delivery in the third over that did him for pace, and the celebration that followed befitted the enormity of claiming the scalp of a man averaging 239 in T20s this summer.
Warner’s quick-fire 20 off 11 balls was once again decisive in laying a winning platform, and there was a relief that a bruising blow he copped to the elbow off the bowling of Pakistan giant Mohammad Irfan did not result in injury – despite him getting it iced after he was dismissed.
GOLDEN ARM
Warner has had the Midas touch with the bat so far this summer, but it was his golden arm which lit up Manuka Oval.
The outfield hare raced around and off-balance, picked off Pakistan star Babar Azam with a stunning direct hit in the 16th over which changed the game.
Azam, the No.1 batsman in Twenty20 cricket, was flying towards a match-defining score when he tried to run two off Warner and came off second best to be out for 50.
FIRED UP BABAR
The Pakistan skipper also left no doubt over the standards he will demand of teammates this summer, with a withering on-field admonishment of batting partner Asif Ali.
Babar gave it to his offsider for not running two when it was clearly on offer in the 12th over.
Then when Ali compounded his error by self-destructing and skying one into the air off Ashton Agar to be caught by Pat Cummins – Babar followed up with another animated spray and bellowing body language.
KANE KANED
The third prong in Australia’s bowling attack said earlier this week he felt like he was playing for his career, considering the fierce competition for spots amongst the country’s plethora of international-class quicks.
But Kane Richardson was forced to endure one of those nights in Twenty20 cricket where the rub of the green just isn’t there.
In the penultimate over Richardson was slaughtered for 22 runs, including two sixes and two fours – despite not bowling that badly.
Updates
Ashton Turner hits a single to win the match – but it has been a five-star performance from Steve Smith which delivered the victory.
Any question marks about his spot in the T20 side have been wiped away emphatically as he finishes unbeaten on 80 from 51 deliveries.
There were 11 fours and one six in a magnificent knock, as Australia win by seven wickets and with nine balls remaining.
That could've been a tricky chase, especially after losing David Warner (20) and Aaron Finch (17) early.
But Smith didn't allow it.
Australia takes a 1-0 lead in the series, with just the final match in Perth to come.
Smith has really picked up the pace in the final few overs, and he's raced to 78.
Australia now need four from 13 balls.
Smith with three boundaries in the Mohammad Amir over which has blown this chase to pieces.
Amir was wide – really wide – outside off stump and Smith rocks onto the back stump and smokes a square drive like a tracer bullet over point.
That is ridiculous cricket. And Australia's runrate is down under six an over.
And Smith has moved to 68.
Four overs remaining and Australia need 30 runs at 7.5 an over.
It seems well in hand, but if there's a wicket (especially Smith) or a low-scoring over…. Pakistan certainly aren't out of the game.
Steve Smith brings up his half century off 36 balls.
That he's done it so casually and methodically… it seems surprising that he's taken just 36 balls to get there!
He's brought the required run-rate down to just over a run a ball.
He holds all the aces. As is often the case.
Ben McDermott has been trapped in front off the bowling of Imad Wasim.
He's quickly gunned, but goes for the review.
It looked a fairly strong shout live… but the hope is hitting outside the line?
But there's no point asking for that… because again there's no ball-tracking!
So out stays out. McDermott goes for 21.
Australia 3-106, needing 45 from 42.
Ashton Turner – the new Finisher – joins him at the crease.
Ben McDermott has been trapped in front off the bowling of Imad Wasim.
He's quickly gunned, but goes for the review.
It looked a fairly strong shout live… but the hope is hitting outside the line?
But there's no point asking for that… because again there's no ball-tracking!
So out stays out. McDermott goes for 21.
Australia 3-106, needing 45 from 42.
Ashton Turner – the new Finisher – joins him at the crease.
It's been a while since we've seen this….
At the halfway mark of Australia's chase, Steve Smith has scampered to 40 from 28 to put the hosts in a strong position.
They need just 65 from 60 from here, and Smith has made sure the loss of Warner and Finch in quick succession hasn't halted their momentum too much.
Ben McDermott is 7 from 10 and doesn't look totally comfortable just yet but he's hanging in there with Smith.
