Steve Smith Hits Resilient Fifty, Surpasses Ajinkya Rahane in WTC 2025 Final Against South Africa

Quick Summary

• Australian batter Steve Smith scored 66 runs off 112 balls with a strike rate of 58.93 in the WTC 2025 Final against South Africa at Lord’s.
• Smith hit ten fours and played a crucial role, forming a 79-run partnership with Beau webster after Australia lost its top batting order.
• With this knock, Smith became the leading run-scorer in the history of WTC Finals, surpassing India’s Ajinkya Rahane (199 runs). Smith now has 221 runs across three innings in WTC Finals.
• Travis Head follows next on the list with 192 runs from three innings. Former Indian players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli hold fourth and fifth positions respectively.
• The Australian team was bowled out for 212, driven by Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket haul and Marco Jansen’s three wickets for South Africa.
• At stumps on Day One, South Africa stood at 43/4 with Temba Bavuma (3) and David Bedingham (8) at the crease. the Proteas trail by 169 runs.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

Steve Smith continues to cement his legacy as one of cricket’s greatest Test batters by breaking Ajinkya Rahane’s record for most career runs in World Test Championship Finals. His steady innings under pressure underscores his value to Australia’s batting lineup during critical matches like thes.

From India’s perspective, milestones achieved by former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli show their contributions to cricket globally remain significant despite India’s absence from this year’s final round.

On broader implications, Australia’s first-day collapse highlights vulnerabilities against skilled bowling attacks spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada-a reminder that even seasoned teams face challenges under high-pressure conditions. For South Africa trailing heavily going into Day Two, resilience will be key if they wish to sway momentum back in their favor during this knockout clash at Lord’s historic venue.