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Steve Smith Photograph: (X)
Australian batter Steve Smith continued his love affair with the MCG and Boxing Day Test with yet another century. The veteran batter who had been going through a bad run of form with the bat scored a century in Brisbane to rediscover his touch. Smith, scored his 34th Test ton with a terrific boundary off Nitish Kumar Reddy to reach the mark.
Resuming the day with his score on 68, Steve Smith was quick to pounce on some loose bowling from India. Skipper Pat Cummins feasted on the bowling with the pair scoring boundaries at will. Having reached 99, when Smith saw Rohit Sharma call the field in to save the single.
Steve Smith Test hundred, number 34!
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 27, 2024
He brings it up in style too 🙌#AUSvINDpic.twitter.com/jRjwC6bdIZ
That didn’t deter the batter to play a check drive as the ball sped to the fence for four runs. Smith was quick to take off his helmet and celebrate with the fans who had come to watch the action on Friday. This is the second successive century for Smith during the current emulating the efforts by Travis Head who had scores of 140 and 152 in successive games.
Team India look short of ideas with the ball
After bowling 85 overs and conceding 311 runs, fans hoped for a better showing by Team India with the ball. It wasn’t the case as the Aussie batters decided to go after the visitors and played aggressive cricket right from the start. Boundaries came at will as both Smith and Cummins put pressure on the opposition.
The decision to bat first after winning the toss seems to have paid rich dividends for the home team. Steve Smith in particular didn’t look troubled as he scored runs across all parts of the ground. Barring the efforts of Jasprit Bumrah who took 3 wickets none of the bowlers could contain the home team batters.
Ravindra Jadeja finally ended the misery levied on the visitors when he dismissed Pat Cummins. The wicket ended the 112-run stand for the 7th wicket with Cummins falling one run short of his fifty. Nitish Reddy took an amazing catch to end the innings as the home team were looking to put their foot on the pedal to score more runs.