Smith smashed a memorable 164, the highest ODI score at the Sydney ground, to guide his side out of trouble and set up a 68-run victory.
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The innings, the seventh highest by an Australian, surpassed South Africa’s AB de Villers 162 at the same ground in last year’s World Cup.
Smith’s average of 50.40 as captain is the highest among ten Australia captains with 500-plus runs.
3 – Ricky Ponting (164), Steve Smith (164) and George Bailey (156) are the only three Australian captains to score more than 150 in ODIs.
Catch the moments from his sensational and special innings HERE.
Smith, who also took a diving one-handed grab to dismiss BJ Watling, said he rated his performance on Sunday behind his century against Sri Lanka at the same ground in the 2015 World Cup.
The 30-year-old’s 102-ball 114 included 10 fours and six maximums but his dismissal in the 33rd over left New Zealand on 185 for five and put Australia back in the box seat.
But Smith led a swashbuckling recovery to put his side in the ascendancy.
“I’m not expecting too much (change) when you win like we did yesterday”, Head said. His last two hundreds at the venue have come against South Africa and India, and Finch could use a big score again: in 18 ODIs since the end of the previous home summer, Finch has averaged just 26.25. “I love batting here, it’s a great place to play and great to play in front of my family”.
By the time he skied a Trent Boult (2-51) delivery to Colin Munro, Australia were past the 300-mark and in excellent shape. He was also grateful for the indecision among the New Zealand ranks after Trent Boult appealed for an lbw when Smith had made 14 – Kane Williamson chose not to review, possibly on the suggestion of a team-mate that there was bat involved, only for Hawk-Eye to show it would have been overturned on DRS. Smith had a third life on 152 when Munro dropped him at square leg.
Smith joined David Warner and the pair put the early setback behind them before a dream moment for Lockie Ferguson ended the stand, Warner chopping on to give him a wicket in his first over in worldwide cricket. Head has taken seven wickets in four Sheffield Shield matches this season and is eager to bowl if called upon for Australia.
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Steven Smith won the toss and Australia will bat on a pitch expected to provide some pace in the first ODI against New Zealand at the SCG. Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-47, 3-89, 4-92, 5-219, 6-302, 7-311, 8-322. Consistently bowling at over 150kmh, Ferguson was rapid early but struggled in subsequent spells and finished with 1 for 73 from nine overs, the worst ever figures by a New Zealand bowler on debut. Total: (all out; 44.2 overs) 256.
