WATCH: A Pick of the Most Innovative Shots as Steve Smith Takes Australia Past Pakistan

Steve Smith has been doing wonders since his return to the International Cricket after completing the ban. He struck a stunning half-century to power Australia to a 7 wicket win over Pakistan in the second T20I match at Manuka Oval, Canberra.

Chasing a total of 150, Australia openers Aaron Finch and David Warner added 30 runs in 3 overs before Warner got out for 20. Smith took a little time to settle down but when done, he started hitting all over the park. He first hit Amir for a maximum through the deep backward square leg and then took on Irfan for two boundaries in the 9th over.

He soon changed the gear as he took only 28 balls to reach his 40. He reached his fifty with style. Smith used his feet well and whipped it past the mid-on for a boundary off Irfan in the first ball of the 15th over.

He smashed three boundaries off Mohammad Amir in the 17th over. While the first one was through the gap between cover and mid-off, the second one was in the same direction. For the third one, he just opened the face of the bat and hit it over the point region.

The next over saw Steve Smith’s another two boundaries off Riaz. He steered the ball over short fine off the edge of his willow for the boundary whereas the next one was over mid-off region.

Steve Smith scored a stormy 80* off 51 with the help of 11 fours and a six. His outstanding batting helped Australia reach the target with 9 balls to spare.

Earlier in the game, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first. Babar Azam, the world’s top T20 batsman, once again seen anchoring the innings with a quickfire 38-ball 50 as others failed to do well until he got some support from Iftikhar Ahmed, who scored his maiden half-century.

For Australia, Ashton Agar was the pick of the bowlers who dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and then Asif Ali in quick succession.

The third and final T20I match will be played in Perth.