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During his stay at the crease in the first innings, Smith faced 197 balls and, with the help of 13 fours and 3 sixes, scored 140 runs.
Steve Smith scored 140 runs in the first inning of 4th India-Australia Test. (Picture Credit: Screengrab, AP)
Steve Smith top-scored for the Aussies in the first innings of the ongoing fourth Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but he was unlucky to miss out on a deserving 150. The 35-year-old right-handed batter came out to bat at No. 4 for the Baggy Greens in the Boxing Day Test and, with the help of 13 fours and 4 sixes, scored 140 runs from 197 balls. He was clean bowled by Akash Deep on the first ball of the 115th over of Australia’s first innings. And his wicket was one of the most bizarre ones.
Smith tried to take on Akash Deep and charged down the crease to play a big shot against him, but he failed to connect with the ball properly, and the red cherry kissed the edge of his bat and then struck the stumps. Smith couldn’t prevent the ball from hitting the stumps and was left disappointed by the manner of his dismissal.
The video of Smith’s wicket was shared on social media platforms by broadcasters, and within no time it went viral on the internet.
Before making his way back to the dugout, Smith set the tone for a big total by the hosts. He added 83 runs for the third wicket with Marnus Labuschagne (72), 53 runs for the sixth wicket with Alex Carey (31), 112 runs for the seventh wicket with Pat Cummins (49), and 44 runs for the eighth wicket with Mitchell Starc (15).
The century on Friday was Smith’s second century in the ongoing series and 11th overall in the five-day format of the game against India. By scoring his 11th Test century, Smith broke Joe Root’s record of most triple-digit scores in Tests vs India. Root has played 30 Tests against India so far and has 10 centuries and 10 fifties to his name.
During his 140-run knock, Smith also broke Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar’s record of scoring the most centuries in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Smith has 10 centuries to his name in 22 BGT matches, whereas Kohli and Tendulkar are in second position with nine centuries each.
