Smith's 11th Ton Powers Australia’s Dominance at the MCG
Steve Smith brought up his 11th Test century against India, the most by any batter against this opposition, as Australia continued their relentless march on the second morning at the MCG. Smith's masterful 139* led the charge, while Pat Cummins' breezy 49 helped Australia to a commanding 454/7 at Lunch.
The morning session was a battle of wits, with Smith and Jasprit Bumrah engaging in a tense exchange. Bumrah's angled deliveries kept Smith on his toes, but the Aussie batter was unshaken, showcasing his resilience. Although Akash Deep managed to induce several false shots, he couldn’t capitalize, and Australia’s scoring rate remained brisk.
Smith reached his century in style, driving Nitish Reddy through extra cover and then dispatching a wayward Mohammed Siraj for a four and six in quick succession. Cummins also joined the fun, hammering Ravindra Jadeja for boundaries before his unlucky dismissal, caught by Nitish after mistiming a shot.
India struggled with both the ball and the field, with Jadeja failing to maintain control and Bumrah conceding a career-high 94 runs in the session. Smith, however, continued to torment the bowlers, sweeping Jadeja for a four and paddling Washington Sundar for another boundary.
By the time the session ended, Australia had scored 143 runs in 27 overs, at a blistering rate of 5.30 runs per over, leaving India scrambling for answers. With Smith still at the crease, Australia’s dominance was undeniable.
