Steve Smith had been looking an immovable object at the crease in Australia’s first innings of the World test Championship Final 2023 at The Oval. As India looked in desperation for Smith’s wicket, it was ‘Lord’ Shardul Thakur who answered to call to eventually dismiss the former Aussie skipper, but not after he’d scored 121 runs and taken Australia close to 400.
Indian bowlers did well in the first session on Day 2 and dismissed both the centurions, Travis Head by Mohammed Siraj and Smith by Thakur. Smith’s long vigil ended after scoring 121 runs off 268 balls and he was involved in a massive partnership of 285 runs with Head as both batters frustrated India.
Shardul, monikered by the fans as ‘Lord’, has grown into a reputation of being a partnership breaker and a big wicket taker. And he did it twice in this match. Shardul had given India a breakthrough on Day 1 with David Warner’s wicket, breaking a threateningly growing stand between Warner and Labuschagne.
Today, he dismissed the settled Smith, the batter chopping onto his stumps while trying to play a shot on the offside.
Fans hailed Shardul Thakur for taking Steve Smith’s wicket. It also tempted renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle to make a tweet on Lord Thakur.
“Just Lord doing Lord things. Even looked up to thank the more omnipresent Lord for that wicket!,” Harsha Bhogle tweeted.
Australia bowled out for 469
Indian bowlers and fielders were brilliant on Day 2 at The Oval.
Smith brought up his century in the first over of Day 2. Travis Head also brought up his 150, but the left-hander got out to Siraj, fending off a short delivery to KS Bharat. Shami got rid of Cameron Green while Shardul Thakur dismissed Steve Smith, played on, before Axar Patel’s direct throw brought curtains for Mitchell Starc.
At Lunch on Day 2, Australia were 422/7.
Post Lunch, Alex Carey frustrated the Indian bowlers for a while in his 48-run knock. However, he got out to Jadeja before Mohammed Siraj took the last two wickets.
