A swash-buckling Daniel Smith century has guided New South Wales to a seven-wicket win over Victoria in a high-scoring Ryobi One-Day Cup clash at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
Scorecard
A swash-buckling Daniel Smith century has guided New South Wales to a seven-wicket win over Victoria in a high-scoring Ryobi One-Day Cup clash at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.
Chasing 318 for victory off 49 overs after Brad Hodge blasted a magnificent career-high 144 earlier in the day, the Blues cruised to 3-324 to reach the imposing target with 49 balls to spare.
Smith's sensational 185 off 123 deliveries is the highest domestic one-day score by a NSW player, eclipsing Phil Jaques' 171 not out against Queensland in 2009-10.
It was a fearsome display of power hitting from Smith, who also eclipsed David Warner's record for most sixes in a domestic one-day fixture after clearing the fence 11 times.
He hit Brad Hodge (0-25) out of the ground to equal Warner's record of nine sixes set against Tasmania in 2008-09, on the way to his first interstate century in any form of the game.
Smith, who does not hold a current contract with Cricket NSW and was only brought into this match as cover for a severely depleted Blues line-up, also bludgeoned 15 boundaries to lead his state to their first victory of the competition.
Tim Cruickshank (75 off 68) was the other major contributor for the hosts, featuring in a 167-run stand with Smith after Nic Maddinson (two) edged to second slip off Jayde Herrick (1-72) in the third over.
Cruickshank's maiden interstate half-century ended in the 25th over when he was adjudged lbw off the bowling of skipper Cameron White (1-24).
Simon Katich (13 off 15) was the final wicket to fall before Ben Rohrer (34 off 29) and Smith put on an unbeaten 105-run stand to seal victory.
It was a day of records as both teams combined for 26 sixes to set a new record in an interstate one-day fixture.
But the Bushrangers head home empty-handed after slumping to their second loss in a row.
Earlier, Hodge's classy century and some lusty late hitting from Rob Quiney (91 off 57) rescued the Bushrangers from a shaky start.
Hodge, who was given a life on 26 when Moises Henriques (3-68) grassed a tough return catch, holed out in the deep off Mitchell Starc (2-70) in the penultimate over.
His highest domestic one-day knock consisted of 14 fours and six sixes -including one that sailed out of the ground off Josh Hazlewood (0-75).
Quiney was equally dangerous after arriving at the crease with the Bushrangers struggling at 5-148.
The pair added 149 off 96 balls before Hodge was dismissed, while the hard-hitting left-hander fell on the final ball of the innings when he picked out Henriques at deep cover off Sean Abbott (2-58).
It was an impressive display from Hodge and Quiney as Victoria added 127 runs off the last 10 overs to steal the ascendancy at the midway stage.
Andrew McDonald (27 off 43) was the only other batsman to make a contribution, putting on 70 runs for the fifth wicket in partnership with Hodge after a destructive spell from Henriques had the visitors precariously placed at 4-78.
