Watch: Steve Smith played an outrageous scoop shot for six in the dying stages of the run-chase against West Indies at the Gabba today (January 28).
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Smith carried his bat in a tense run-chase against the West Indies in Brisbane as Australia fell short by eight runs. Opening the batting for the first time in Test cricket in this series, he remained unbeaten at the end for 91 off 146 balls, scoring his first half century as a Test opener.
Set a target of 216, the Australian batting order collapsed at the other end as Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc were the only other batters, Smith apart, to go past 20.
The ninth wicket fell at 191, with Australia still needing 25 runs for victory. When Alzarri Joseph ran in to bowl the 50th over the innings, they still needed 20 more.
Joseph bowled a length ball in the channel to which Smith outrageously shuffled across and scooped over the wicketkeeper for six. Considering the situation of the game, not many saw that coming, especially off Smith’s bat, who rarely employs the stroke in Test matches.
It brought the equation down to 14, but Shamar Joseph, the man of the moment, cleaned up Josh Hazlewood at the other end in the next over to set up a famous victory for West Indies, their first in Australia since 1997.
Watch Steve Smith outrageously scoop Alzarri Joseph for six:
WHAT! pic.twitter.com/8Ub5jHvL78
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 28, 2024