A Steve Smith century helped give retiring Australia skipper Aaron Finch a winning send-off Sunday with a 25-run victory in the final one-day international against New Zealand at Cairns.
Chasing the home team’s 267-5, built on the back of Smith’s masterful 105, the Blacks Caps were all out for 242 in the last over with Mitchell Starc taking 3-60.
It capped a disappointing Chappell-Hadlee series for the visitors. Australia won the opening game by two wickets before a 113-run thrashing of the Black Caps in the second.
#WATCH: #SteveSmith‘s brilliant display of game awareness as he smashes a sixhttps://t.co/RSCjaFPnzd
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“For us to get to 260 after probably our slowest start ever was just amazing,” said Finch, who was out for five in his 146th and last ODI. “Our bowling has been good, everyone has contributed.
“Been a fun ride, I’ve loved every bit of it,” he added of his ODI career.
New Zealand started the chase confidently, racing to 49 before Sean Abbott temped Devon Conway (21) into a drive that Smith caught.
Cameron Green accounted for opener Finn Allen after a breezy 35, caught low by Josh Hazlewood to leave them 57-2 in the 12th over.
Some unplayable bowling starved New Zealand of runs with Alex Carey stumping Tom Latham for…
