New Delhi: Rising Pune Supergiant captain Steve Smith was in no mood to concede even a single inch against Mumbai Indians in the final of Indian Premier League 2017 at Hyderabad on Sunday.
The 27-year-old from Sydney was holding the Pune innings together, in their chase of 130-run target against the two-time champions. His knock was replete with cautious shot selection.
But with the asking rate constantly climbing, the right-handed batsman was forced to take chances, and in one such move, played a brilliant switch hit. And the result a huge six.
That shot left Mahendra Singh Dhoni spell-bound, forcing the former Pune captain to approach the new captain for a few words of appreciation in front of everyone.
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It happened in the 16th over with Krunal Pandya on attack. Pandya, the left-arm spinner, dropped on the middle stump line even as Smith was shuffling, changing his stance from a right-handed to left-handed one.
Smith that switched hit it over the third man boundary, for a huge six.
But Pune lost the match, despite a valiant 51 off 50 from Smith, by one run in the last-ball thriller.
