/sportsinfo/media/member_avatars/image 59.png)
Follow Us/sportsinfo/media/media_files/2024/12/27/mI2UX1O4C606DpTJ2CpB.jpg)
Steve Smith century Photograph: (X)
Australia continued to stamp their authority over India in the ongoing Melbourne Test match. Ace batter Steve Smith scored his 34th Test ton and his 11th against India during the second day of the MCG Test match on Friday. The century by Smith was also the 10th in Border Gavaskar Trophy going past the 9 scored by Virat Kohli.
Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting caught up with Steve Smith just as the players made their way off the park for lunch. Speaking to Ponting on 7 Cricket, Smith was asked how he felt after scoring his century to which he said, “Yeah, it’s been good, had to work hard and sort of early yesterday on the back of some really good work from some of the guys.”
Two guys with 75 Test hundreds between them.
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 27, 2024
Ricky Ponting chats with Steve Smith 🤝#AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/Q7KsQsnR7D
Smith came into bat at the fall of Usman Khawaja for 57 and went onto add 83 runs for the third wicket with Marnus Labuschagne. The visitors fought back with the key wickets of Travis Head for a duck and Mitchell Marsh for 4. Smith found support from Alex Carey who scored 31 and helped add 53 runs for the 6th wicket.
Steve Smith ton helps Australia post huge total on board
The Aussies resumed the day at 311/6 with Smith and Cummins scoring runs at quick pace. The pair added 112 runs for the 7th wicket in 22 overs with Smith reaching his ton with a boundary off Nitish Kumar Reddy. It was a special knock by a batter who had been struggling for runs in the first two games of the series.
Steve Smith during his chat on 7 Cricket with Ricky Ponting said, “It’s been good fun it was a nice partnership and played with nice intent.” Smith also said that Cummins was unlucky to miss out on a fifty when he was caught by Nitish Reddy off Jadeja. “Unfortunate to miss his fifty but were in a very nice spot.”
Ricky Ponting asked Smith if he felt batting was easy to which he replied, “It’s never easy but no it has been good fun, the wicket is probably done less than most of the other wickets and if you get in you can cash in.” Smith was out for 140 after he was bowled by Akash Deep. The 35-year-old batted for 197 balls and hit 13 fours and 3 sixes in his knock.