Smith’s Century Powers Australia’s Dominance Over India
Steve Smith's commanding 140 propelled Australia to a strong position against India in Melbourne, helping the hosts reach 474 in their first innings. This marked Smith's second consecutive century after breaking a 26-Test drought in Brisbane, and his 34th Test hundred overall, placing him alongside cricket legends Brian Lara and Sunil Gavaskar in joint seventh on the all-time list. The 34-year-old's innings featured a crucial 112-run partnership with captain Pat Cummins (49) before ending unusually when he charged Akash Deep, resulting in an inside edge onto his pads that dislodged the leg stump bail. India's response started poorly as captain Rohit Sharma's struggles continued, falling for three to Cummins. KL Rahul's dismissal to an exceptional Cummins delivery left India at 51-2. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli temporarily steadied the innings with a 102-run stand before Jaiswal's run-out for 82 triggered […]