Advertisement

'Remarkable': Steve Smith shines with bizarre career milestone

Andrew Reid

Steve Smith has notched another milestone with a bizarre career-first in New South Wales' Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia.

Just last week the 30-year-old destroyed Pakistan in Australia's big T20 win in Canberra, smashing an unbeaten 80 runs on the way to being named the player of the series.

WHAT’S SO FUNNY?: Jofra Archer lifts lid on controversial Steve Smith moment

‘UNBELIEVABLE’: Records tumble in amazing Sheffield Shield masterclass

While that innings saw Smith showcase his impressive array of aggressive stroke play, his feat on Tuesday for NSW couldn't have been any different.

Smith's century for the Blues came off a staggering 290 balls - representing the slowest scoring first-class century of the star batsman's career.

Pictured here Steve Smith celebrates his century against WA in the Sheffield Shield.
Steve Smith made the slowest century of his first-class career against WA. Pic: Getty

The next slowest ton of Smith's career - a 261-ball century at the Gabba in the 2017/18 Ashes series - was considerably faster than his marathon effort over Monday and Tuesday.

The incredible statistic further demonstrates the former Aussie captain's ability to shift between the gears and play whatever style is necessary under differing conditions.

NSW star out in bizarre fashion

Smith was eventually out for 103 runs (off 295 balls) and his dismissal was almost as strange as his 'go-slow' innings.

The 30-year-old was filthy with himself after trying to scoop a short-pitched ball over the wicketkeeper and down to the boundary.

However, the unorthodox shot failed to pay dividends as a thin edge saw him caught behind off the bowling of Marcus Stoinis.

Smith seemed more focused on occupying the crease for long periods on Monday, but picked up the scoring rate to a degree on day two to reach his second century of the Sheffield Shield summer over five and half hours at the crease.

Nevertheless, the knock saw Sheffield Shield leaders NSW take a position of strength in a match where a draw remains the most likely result.

WA's batsman dug in to largely stave off NSW's all-star bowling attack to be 1-85 at stumps on day two in response to the home side's 8-444.

D'Arcy Short remains unbeaten on 39, with Shawn Marsh on 25. Mitchell Starc (1-20) took the only wicket to fall forcing Josh Philippe to play onto his stumps, while fellow Test paceman Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were also lively and saw a handful of appeals turned down.

It was gruelling work in hot conditions for WA's attack weakened by the absence of Jhye Richardson.

There were two wickets each for Stoinis (2-59), leg-spinner Liam O'Conner (2-77) and part-timer D'Arcy Short (2-39).

With AAP