Galle [Sri Lanka], February 8 (ANI): Star Australian batter Steve Smith re-wrote document books with one other good century towards Sri Lanka in the course of the second Take a look at at Galle.
On Friday, Smith placed on a masterclass in taking part in spin, ending day two at 120 in 239 balls, with 9 fours and a six, placing Aussies in a commanding place.
Together with his century, Smith surpassed legendary Australian batter and former captain Ricky Ponting to be the workforce’s main run-getter in Asia. In 24 Checks in Asia, Smith has scored 1,983 runs at a mean of 53.59, with seven centuries and eight fifties in 42 innings and greatest rating of 178.
Ponting slid all the way down to second, with 1,889 runs in 28 matches and 48 innings, which incorporates 5 centuries and 10 fifties. His greatest rating in Asian situations is 150.
Smith can be the sixth Aussie to achieve the 17,000 worldwide runs mark. In 348 worldwide matches, he has scored 17,016 runs at a mean of 48.06, with 48 centuries and 80 fifties. His greatest rating is 239. On the prime of the run-scoring charts is Ponting, with 27,368 runs in 559 worldwide matches and 667 innings at a mean of 45.84. This included 7 centuries and 146 fifties, with the very best rating of 257.
With 36 Take a look at tons, Smith has now joined England’s Joe Root and Indian legend Rahul Dravid as joint-fifth-highest century maker in Checks.
Additionally, that is Smith’s seventeenth Take a look at century away from residence, equalling with West Indies nice Brian Lara and outdoing Indian batting icon Virat Kohli (16 centuries). Sachin Tendulkar (29) has most Take a look at centuries away from residence. That is his seventh century in Asia, becoming a member of New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Root because the third-highest century-maker in Checks in Asia, with Alastair Cook dinner, former England opener, on the prime with 9 tons in Asia.
Smith has centuries in 4 successive Checks now, ranging from the fourth Take a look at towards India, a Boxing Day conflict at Melbourne. As soon as sitting exterior the highest 10 of ICC World Take a look at Championship 2023-25 run-getters, Smith is now at sixth spot. In 19 Checks, he has scored 1,313 runs at a mean of 42.35, with 5 centuries and 4 fifties. His greatest rating is 141.
Coming to the match, Sri Lanka gained the toss and opted to bat first. Half-centuries from Kusal Mendis (85 in 139 balls, with 10 fours and a six) and Dinesh Chandimal (74 in 163 balls, with six fours and a six) took Sri Lanka to 257 in 97.4 overs.
Mitchell Starc (3/27), Matthew Kuhnemann (3/63), and Nathan Lyon (3/96) have been prime wicket-takers for Australia.
Of their first innings, Australia misplaced Travis Head (21), Marnus Labuschagne (4), and Usman Khawaja (36) early, leaving the workforce struggling at 91/3. Nevertheless, centuries from Alex Carey (139 in 156 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes) and Smith (120 in 239 balls, with 9 fours and a six) took Australia to 330/3 on the finish of day two, main by 73 runs. (ANI)
