TORONTO AFP: Disgraced former Australia skipper Steve Smith made a successful return to cricket on Thursday, scoring a half-century in the Global T20 Canada in his first game since the ball-tampering scandal which led to his suspension. He scored 61 off 41 balls for the Toronto Nationals in a six-wicket victory over the Vancouver Knights at King City. Smith’s knock included eight boundaries and one six before he was out stumped off the bowling of Fawad Ahmed.
New Zealander Anton Devcich, with an unbeaten 92, and skipper Darren Sammy, with 22 not out, steered Toronto home, finishing on 231-4 off 19.2 overs after Vancouver hit 227-4 off 20 overs.
Smith is playing in the Canada competition along with David Warner, who was also suspended from cricket following the ball-tampering controversy. The third player suspended in the scandal, Cameron Bancroft, is not taking part.
While Smith is banned from Australian state and international cricket, he is allowed to appear at club level in Australia and in domestic tournaments abroad, such as the Canada tournament.