…Steve Smith registers 12th ODI century

A superb century to Steve Smith’s has guided Australia to a clean sweep of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, defeating New Zealand by 25 runs to send off Aaron Finch as a winner in the third Dettol ODI in Cairns.

Smith got through an impressive new-ball display from Trent Boult and Tim Southee to register the 12th ODI century of his career as Australia compiled 5-267.

In reply, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner offered the visitors hope with a late flurry but eventually they fell short to be bowled out for 242.

Smith’s century was the only hundred across Australia’s six ODIs in Townsville and Cairns – New Zealand’s batters failed to register a fifty – where the teams have been faced with conditions more suited to bowling than batting.

And he saved the best for last with a fluent innings that was riddled with sumptuous drives against a high-quality bowling attack to earn both Player of the Match and Series honours.

New Zealand, who were skittled for 82 just three days ago, won the toss and decided to bowl first on the fresh Cazalys Stadium surface.

There was a noticeable hush around the ground when Finch faced his first ball as the boisterous Cairns crowd held its collective breath as Boult steamed in.

The recalled Josh Inglis had the privilege of partnering Finch in the captain’s final one-day match but was first to go for 10 when he guided Boult to wicketkeeper Tom Latham.

Finch’s final ODI innings lasted only 13 balls, his stumps shattered by a Southee in-swinger with five runs to his name.

A standing ovation greeted Finch as he left the arena with everyone in Cazalys Stadium eager to show their appreciation for the champion Australian captain.

As Australia finished their Powerplay with the score on 2-19, Smith and Marnus Labuschagne were more intent on survival than run-scoring early on, scoring just 10 runs from the first nine overs of their partnership.

But the dynamic duo eventually found their rhythm and brought up their 10th century stand for Australia (seven in Tests, three in ODIs).

Smith was sweating on over-pitched deliveries and cashed in with a series of divine straight and on drives while Labuschagne was content with ones and twos.

The highlight of Smith’s innings came in the 38th over when New Zealand had mistakenly placed one too many fielders outside the 30-yard circle.

Aware of the situation, Smith unleashed a huge slog that cleared the mid-wicket fence and immediately followed it up with an animated gesture to the umpires to ensure the no ball and free hit weren’t missed

Smith raced from 50 to 100 in only 46 balls but it was the slowest one-day ton of his career, coming off 127 balls.

The right hander has been Australia’s form batter of the northern Queensland fixtures, scoring 48no and 47no against Zimbabwe and 61 against New Zealand in the second ODI, the only batter for that match to pass 50.

Labuschagne had his issues against the swinging ball in game one and two of this series (out to Boult lbw twice), but navigated the pace bowlers’ opening spells and brought up his first half-century in nine ODI innings.

Boult was outstanding again, taking figures of 2-25 to finish the series with 10 wickets at an average of 10.3.

The left-armer’s supreme career record in ODIs against Glenn Maxwell continued, capturing the wicket of the Australia allrounder for the sixth time at a cost of only 19 runs.

Australia slammed 91 runs off the final 10 overs as Alex Carey (42no off 43) and Cameron Green (25no off 12) finished off the innings with aplomb.

Finn Allen and Devon Conway started the Kiwis’ chase with a flurry of boundaries, having no issues dealing with Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Conway (21 off 26) stood his ground when Smith took a catch at gully, but the TV umpire Rod Tucker overturned the on-field soft signal of out to send Conway on his way

Allen (35 off 38), brought into the side in place of Martin Guptill, looked comfortable and displayed his timing with five fours and a straight six off Adam Zampa.

But he fell to a simple catch at mid-on after attempting to work a Cameron Green delivery to the on side.

The tourists were still in a decent position when experienced pair Williamson and Tom Latham teamed up, but Latham was stumped after advancing down the pitch to Zampa, making it three quick wickets for the hosts.

The wicket of captain Kane Williamson (27 off 56), the fifth of the innings, encapsulated the Kiwis’ series in Cairns; what started with promise had turned into a nightmare.

Phillips nudged a Maxwell delivery to deep point and an easy two appeared on the cards, but sharp work from Labuschagne caused confusion for Williamson and Phillips with the skipper falling victim to the mix-up

However Phillips, Jimmy Neesham and Santner consistently found the boundary and swung the game back in New Zealand’s favour.

Abbott’s fancy footwork on the rope ended Phillips’ innings with 44 runs required and put the brakes on the chase.

Mitch Starc (3-60 off 9.5 overs) and Sean Abbott (2-31 off 10) held their nerve at the death to close out the innings and send Australia up to second spot in the ICC ODI Super League.(Cricket.com,au)