Steve Smith century: Aussie batsman continues brilliant six months in World Cup semi-final

STEVE Smith’s graceful 105 off 93 in the World Cup semi-final at the SCG continued his almost unprecedented level of dominance against India.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 26: Steve Smith of Australia bats during the 2015 Cricket World Cup Semi Final match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on March 26, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

INDIA hasn’t experienced an Australian force like it since Sir Donald Bradman.

And the same may yet go for the rest of the world.

Steve Smith’s emphatic claim to being the best batsman on the planet was enhanced in spectacular fashion on Thursday as he produced the most important century of his career on the game’s biggest stage.

The 25-year-old’s graceful 105 off 93 in the World Cup semi-final at the SCG continued an almost unprecedented level of dominance for Smith over the cricketing giants from the sub-continent.

Australia's Steve Smith looks to the heavens as he reaches his century during ICC Cricket World Cup Semi Final between Australia and India at the SCG. pic. Phil Hillyard

AUSTRALIA V INDIA LIVE

From 11 matches against India, Smith averages 90.25, a mark only bettered by Bradman’s astronomical average of 178.75 procured from just five Tests.

This summer alone, Smith has scored a Bradmanesque 921 runs against MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli’s helpless side across both formats at 115.12.

At this rate he will like his chances of chasing down Ricky Ponting’s 4795 career runs against India at 47.

But his Indian exhibition is but a snapshot of Smith’s overall body of work.

When this endless campaign began against South Africa way back in mid-November, Smith wasn’t even in Australia’s best ODI XI.

Now five months on, Smith’s home summer log book reads 1595 runs, seven hundreds, seven 50s at 88.61.

Steve Smith's hundred was the 19th by an Australian at the @scg. On the other 18 occasions Australia has gone on to win the match. #AUSvIND

— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) March 26, 2015

It’s easy to get drowned by the numbers, but Thursday’s one innings said it all.

Yet again Smith came to the crease with Australia in early trouble at 1-15, and yet again he proved the mid-tournament decision to promote him to No.3 as the most inspired call of the World Cup.

While Aaron Finch didn’t seem confident of getting bat on ball at one end, Smith prodded balls into holes with effortless precision.

It was the same last week when Smith looked as though he was batting on a different pitch to battling partner Shane Watson.

If it wasn’t clear already, the tell-tale sign that Smith is in a league of his own came when he passed 50 off 53 balls and decided he didn’t need a helmet anymore.

The cap has long been the signature headwear for the confident stroke-maker, and Smith grew another leg in his second 50.

The cricket ball. As seen through the eyes of Steve Smith. pic.twitter.com/rYLNILExj3

— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) March 26, 2015

Steve Smith putting India to the sword again. Century in a World Cup Semi at better than a run a ball #CWC15 #AUSvIND @abcgrandstand

— Gerard Whateley (@GerardWhateley) March 26, 2015

Smith finished with 11 elegant boundaries and two brutal sixes, and brought his hundred up in just 89 balls.

In a summer of milestones, this marked a maiden ODI century for the prodigy from Sydney’s southern suburbs.

Since last year’s New Year’s Ashes Test, Smith has made the SCG his own.

Three centuries, three 50s, 591 runs at 73.87.

Over the past six months, Smith has left his fellow batsmen for dead like Usain Bolt at the Commonwealth Games.

Across all three formats Smith has compiled nearly 2000 runs at 75.46 – with eight hundreds and 10 fifties.

It’s 300 runs better than his nearest rival, New Zealander Kane Williamson.

Over the past 12 months, South African master AB de Villiers is the only man to have outpointed Smith.

But no one can speak about Smith’s rising star better than India.

Out of 10 innings this summer, Smith has only failed to reach 50 on three occasions – and one of them was a 47.

Ponting played 89 matches against India.

Smith isn’t yet through a dozen and he’s already enemy No.1 – and Demigod for 1.25 billion people.