SMITH SHAKES OFF NERVES FOR CAREER-BEST 91

Durban’s Super Giants all-rounder Jason Smith showed his growing potential with a maiden international half-century in the third and final ODI against Ireland last night in Abu Dhabi.

Smith has enjoyed a couple of stellar seasons with the Dolphins across formats the past two seasons, which saw him signed by DSG for Betway SA20 Season 2. 

Although the former SA U19 ICC World Cup winner did not get on the park for DSG, the time spent with head coach Lance Klusener certainly paid off with Smith topping the run-scoring charts for the Dolphins in the subsequent CSA T20 Challenge. 

Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter was certainly keeping a close eye on Smith’s development and called him up for the T20I series in the West Indies and the subsequent tour to the UAE.

A timid T20I debut was followed by a trial by spin from the Afghanistan slow bowling maestros created doubt that Smith was ready to take the step up. 

But with the Proteas in all sorts of trouble at 59/4 in pursuit of Ireland’s 284/9 at the Sheikh Zayed International Stadium, Smith showed that he could absorb the pressure of international cricket. 

Despite wickets continuing to fall around him, the tall right-hander maintained his composure at the start of the innings before flourishing once the nerves settled. 

He hauled out a couple of elegant cover drives that sped across the turf, while also showing off his power game with four sixes over the leg-side boundary. 

Smith was unfortunate not to bring up a maiden ODI century when he eventually succumbed to catch on the third-man boundary and departed for a well-played 91 off 93 balls (9x4, 4x6).

"Always going to be tough coming in such a situation. They bowled quite nicely. The conditions allowed me to get in and take it as deep as possible. To be honest, I was very nervous. But once I got over that, after I got my first runs I was better," Smith said.