New Delhi: After helping Australia post a sensational five-wicket win over visiting Indians in the first One-Day International match, skipper Steven Smith has furthered reputation as one of the best batsmen of his time.


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Praising Smith's prolific knock of 149 off 135 balls, veteran batsman George Bailey confessed that he felt a little underwhelmed batting alongside the skipper.


Chasing India's 309, Australia won the match with four balls remaining, with Smith and Bailey stitching a record 242-run third-wicket stand. Australia were in dire straits, losing both the openers -- Aaron Finch and David Warner -- to debutant Barinder Sran inside the first five overs.


But the arrival of Smith and Bailey in the centre changed the course of the match, with the Australians scoring at free will against a jaded Indian bowling attack at the WACA Ground, Perth.


"I'm in awe of him, absolutely," Bailey was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia website.


"It's a bit demoralising batting with him to be honest, because he just makes it look very, very easy at times.


"But also it's very impressive to see the hunger for runs.


"He probably finds it quite relaxing to be out in the middle, because it's the one time he doesn't have to captain - he just has to bat," the 33-year-old, who himself scored 112 off 120 deliveries, said.


Continuing his red-hot form, Smith paced his innings to perfection in his 179 minute stay in the middle. He innings was adorned with 11 fours and two sixes.


Joining Bailey in praise of the skipper, an amazed Mike Hussey said that Smith's temperament matches his talent.


"I always saw that the talent was there but I didn't know whether the temperament was there," the Aussie legend Hussey told AAP.


"When he first came in he was an impetuous young kid.


"He wanted to get there so fast and sometimes that impetuous nature got the better of him and I wasn't sure if he could rein that in.


"But he's obviously a smart kid."


Hussey witnessed the growth of Smith, having played alongside the 26-year-old in all three forms of the game when the NSW youngster broke into international cricket in 2010.


Smith was recently named the ICC's Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year, besides being the top-ranked Test batsman.