Steve Smith eclipsed by Ashes rivals in the Hundred
Smith, who hopes his long awaited bow in English cricket's premier white-ball tournament could help him cement a place in Australia's T20 plans and eventually lead to Olympic gold in Los Angeles, made a decent bow for the Welsh Fire.
Put in to bat by the Northern Superchargers on Thursday evening in Leeds, he scored 29 off just 18 balls and enjoyed a brisk 62-run opening partnership with old Ashes foe Jonny Bairstow.
But after the visitors had been held to 9-143 off their 100 balls, the home side waltzed the chase with Zak Crawley and Harry Brook, stand-outs in the thrilling Test series draw with India, easing Superchargers to 2-147 and an eight-wicket stroll with 11 deliveries still remaining.
The 36-year-old Smith had looked sharp enough as he whipped one off his legs off Matthew Potts over the legside boundary and also smashed a straight drive back at poor old Mohammad Amir so hard that the unfortunate Pakistani had to have his ankle strapped as he went sprawling in agony.
Then, attempting an uncomfortable looking reverse sweep off Potts, Smith got bowled off his tangled up legs.
"It's been good fun. Unfortunately, got out to an ordinary one out there today, but I was feeling pretty good," shrugged Smith.
Smith and Fire captain Bairstow (42 off 23) had put on 62 in 37 balls in what looks as if it could prove a fruitful partnership.
Smith hit a couple of boundaries to go with his six but would doubtless love to have scored a few more, especially after revealing how he hopes to be sending Australia coach Andrew McDonald a few texts from England about his feats in the Hundred.
Smith's enjoyed his initial spell in Wales in the Mike Hussey-coached side alongside other fellow Aussies, Chris Green and Riley Meredith, who both did their best with the ball to keep the Fire in the hunt.
Green conceded just 23 off his 19 deliveries and Meredith (2-33 off his 20) took the only two wickets to fall - Dawid Malan for 41 and Michael Pepper for four.
But it all proved in vain as Brook, fresh from being named England's player of the Test series against India on Monday, switched seamlessly into white-ball mode, crunching Meredith's 90mph delivery for a monstrous cover-driven six first ball when he came to the crease with 44 still needed.
He whacked another maximum with an outrageous square drive before Crawley finished the job, ending up with five fours and four sixes to his name.
Smith is now looking forward to facing the London Spirit on his home Cardiff debut on Saturday.
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