Steven Smith, in red hot form, is looking “pretty scary” for the opposition teams, acknowledged Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell after his teammate scored his second successive century against India on 29th November.
Steven Smith’s quick-fire 104-run knock off 64 balls with 14 fours and 2 sixes propelled Australia to a mammoth 389 for four in the second ODI, which they defended easily to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series.
Steven Smith Placing The Ball As Well As Anyone Around The World: Glenn Maxwell
Steven Smith had scored 105 in the first ODI too which Australia won by 66 runs before his 104 in the second ODI helped Australia beat India by 51 runs.
“As he said the other day, he has found his hands, he is looking pretty scary at the moment for opposition teams. He is placing the ball as well as anyone around the world. When he puts the foot down, he goes and goes hard,” Glenn Maxwell said at the virtual post-match press conference, facilitated by official broadcasters Sony Networks.
“He is picking his spots. He is calculated (on the off-side) and he has got so much time at the moment. A lot of time, you judge him by the way he starts his innings and he just started by hitting the middle of the bat consistently.”
India’s bowlers particularly Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal were poor, to say the least. In the first ODI, they conceded more than 8 runs per over. In the second ODI, pacer Navdeep Saini conceded 70 runs in 7 overs at an economy rate of 10 per over. Both Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah conceded 7.9 runs per over in 2nd ODI.
Glenn Maxwell Felt Nice To Sort Of getting Bit Of Momentum In ODI And Credited Opening Partnership
Glenn Maxwell, who himself contributed in Australia’s second successive 350 plus total with his unbeaten 63 off only 29 balls, said it was great to get a bit of momentum in ODI cricket but also credited performing top-order for his success which made his role much easier. He, like Steven Smith, didn’t live up to expectations in IPL but found their lost touch in bilateral ODI series against India.
“I suppose it comes down to situations and conditions. And Sydney has been a place where I have had a bit of success in the past, a great wicket to bat on, there is always a lot of space out there and I’m trying to find that short boundary.
“But yes, it is been nice to sort of get bit of momentum in ODI cricket. Sometimes it is not easy to find consistency in the long road, but when the top-order is doing their job as well as they are at the moment, that makes my role a lot easier down (at the) bottom,” he said.
Glenn Maxwell also said the opening partnership between David Warner and Aaron Finch has been no less than sensational. In both matches, they had laid the foundation for the middle order to build a huge total on board.
Asked was it a perfect template to build a 50-overs innings, Glenn Maxwell said, “Yes it certainly has, when you have got a guy like Steve Smith coming in and getting 100 of 62 balls, it’s pretty special to watch and it feels like we are just setting the platform beautifully, weathering that early storm and that opening partnership has just been sensational for us.”
David Warner and Aaron Finch put together a partnership of 142 runs for the first wicket in 2nd ODI after 1st wicket partnership of 156 runs in the first ODI. Glenn Maxwell scored 45 off 19 balls in the 1st ODI too.