Smith finishes career same way he started

Correspondent | Thursday March 6, 2014 16:28

 

But two of Smith’s senior lieutenants, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, then frustrated Johnson and the rest of the Australia attack for more than two hours to preserve an outside chance that the captain will not bow out with a series defeat.

There seemed a real danger of the world’s No1-ranked Test team failing to take the match into the final day when they slumped to 15 for three at tea on the fourth day, Michael Clarke having declared Australia’s second innings on 303 for five after David Warner cracked his second century of the match, and his third of the three-Test series.

But Amla and De Villiers showed their courage and class in a fourth-wicket partnership of 53 in more than 30 overs until Amla fell lbw to reverse swing from James Pattinson late in the day. De Villiers is still there, and it is the world’s top-ranked batsman who offers Smith a sliver of hope in his role as a spectator on his last day as a Test cricketer.

He spent the first half of his penultimate day in the field with a grim face as Warner made hay with quick runs needed in the second innings, his favourite match situation, as England’s bowlers will ruefully confirm. The left-hander hit 13 fours and four sixes in following his first innings of 135 from 152 balls with 145 off 156, giving him an aggregate of 543 in the series at an average of more than 90. (The Guardian)