Incredible Steve Smith moment everybody missed

Steve Smith has impressed in his return to international cricket after a 12 month exile, and has even managed to add something new to his repertoire which has gone largely unnoticed.

The former captain’s ability with the ball was no secret, having originally made his name as an all-rounder.

Leg-spin is Smith’s specialty, but some tinkering during the World Cup has produced an off-spinner that baffled New Zealand’s Jimmy Neesham.

Though his change of spin was jokingly written off by assistant coach Ricky Ponting as the ‘biggest fluke of all time’, Smith’s teammate Glenn Maxwell says his bowling is the real deal.

Smith was brought on intentionally to bowl leg spin to Colin de Grandhomme, dismissing him with his first ball.

Faced then with left-handers Neesham and Tom Latham, Smith switched to offies for the rest of the over, to avoid bowling into them against the short boundary at Lords.

The New Zealanders weren’t the only ones caught off guard - Maxwell admitted he was as well.

"I was at cover and (Smith) goes, 'I think I am going to bowl offies,' and I said, 'really?' He goes, 'yeah.' He said, 'geez, I am nervous about this.'" Maxwell told cricket.com.au.

"It was just a short boundary to a left-hander. If he'd tried to bowl leggies they probably would have taken him on. It certainly caught them off guard as well.

"I saw the look in Jimmy Neesham's face and he was like, 'what was that?'"

Clearly, despite Ponting’s scepticism, the gambit worked.

Australia went on to win their match against New Zealand, all but booking their place in the semi-finals in the process.

Kiwi skipper’s ‘unlucky’ dismissal

England qualified for the World Cup semifinals for the first time in 27 years on Wednesday with a 119-run win over New Zealand, who are also effectively heading to the playoffs despite a third straight loss.

Jonny Bairstow's second consecutive century powered the hosts to 8-305 after electing to bat at the Riverside Ground, Durham.

Bairstow smashed 106 off 99 balls and stitched together a 123-run opening stand with Jason Roy (60) before a middle-order collapse opened the door for their opponents.

But in reply, New Zealand lost their openers cheaply before two run-outs effectively derailed their chase as they were all out for 186 in 45 overs with only Tom Latham (57) offering some resistance with the bat.

And in one of the most freakish dismissals the tournament, skipper Kane Williamson - the rock of the Black Caps' batting department - was run out at the non-striker's end for 27 when Ross Taylor's straight drive glanced off the fingertips of England paceman Wood and hit the stumps.