He may have ended proceedings on the losing side in Australia Test series with India last month, but Steve Smith began his 2017 Indian Premier League campaign as a winner.
The Royal Pune Supergiant captain led by example with an unbeaten 84 off 54 balls, including two sixes in a row in the final over, to guide his side to a seven-wicket victory with one ball to spare at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on Thursday night.
Smith had won the toss and put Mumbai into bat, and that decision looked as though it would backfire as Parthiv Patel (19) and Jos Buttler (38) put on 45 for the first wicket in just 4.2 overs.
But both openers fell to South African spinner Imran Tahir, who was the game’s standout bowler with figures of 3-28.
The Mumbai innings never regained sufficient momentum from then, with only some late big hitting from Hardik Pandya, who struck 35 off 15 balls with four sixes, getting them up to a score of 184 for eight.
But that total was quickly made to appear inadequate as Pune opener Ajinkya Rahane scored freely, striking six boundaries and three sixes in his score of 60 before he was caught by Ntish Rana off Tim Southee.
He and Smith had put on 58 for the second wicket, and once he was out, Smith took over proceedings. The Australia captain then put on a 50 partnership with England all-rounder Ben Stokes.
Though Stokes fell for 21, Pune looked to be in a comfortable position and cruising to victory. However, some economical bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell McClenaghan made life tough for Smith and MS Dhoni and the result appeared in question when they required 10 off the final three balls.
But Smith struck successive sixes off Kieron Pollard to lead his side to victory.
Friday’s game sees Gujarat Lions go up against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
Pune are next in action on Sunday when they travel to Kings XI Punjab, while Mumbai also play on the same day and will face Kolkata.
* The National staff
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