7xm Steve Smith Lauded By Alex Carey As 'All-Time Great' After Gritty Century In Galle

Steve Smith now has two centuries in the series in Sri Lanka Steve Smith now has two centuries in the series in Sri Lanka

Alex Carey hailed Steve Smith as an all-time great after the two batsmen hit second-day centuries to put Australia in command against Sri Lanka. (Match Highlights | More Cricket News)

Sri Lankaended their first innings all out for 257 early on Friday, but the early dismissals of Travis Head (21) and Marnus Labuschagne (four) gave the hosts hope of limiting the tourists' total.

Smith, who surpassed 10,000 Test runs in the first match of the series, survived an lbw review from the first ball he faced and eventually ended the day on 120 not out.

It was his 36th red-ball ton, with only Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41) and Kumar Sangakkara (38) scoring more centuries in the format.

Carey, meanwhile, smashed an unbeaten 139, with the duo set to resume on day three with Australia boasting a 73-run lead with seven wickets in hand.

“The final was really intense; the Chinese were breathing down our necks throughout the game and made it really difficult for us to create a clear goal scoring chance,” Harmanpreet said in a Hockey India release.

Speaking at stumps, Carey lavished praise upon his batting partner and highlighted the stand-in skipper's frequent use of the reverse sweep,jolibet login which kept Sri Lanka on their toes.

"To be able to focus for 250 balls in these conditions... it's another 100 on his CV, and he's going to go down as an all-time great," Carey said of Smith.

"It certainly surprised me when he went for a reverse sweep without a helmet on. He's got some nice teeth, which aren't cheap!

"That's the quality of the player, he's able to solve problems on the go."

Looking ahead to the resumption of play on Saturday, Carey said: "We are in a commanding position. 

"We want to score as many as possible in the first innings, as batting can get tricky later."

Kusal Mendis, who ended Sri Lanka's first innings unbeaten on 85, said: "Australia were superb. They bowled well and they took on our spinners well.

85* - Kusal Mendis' (@OfficialSLC) innings of 85* in the current #SLvAUS men's Test is the second highest score in the history of the format by a Sri Lanka player batting at No.7 or lower vs Australia without being dismissed (Romesh Kaluwitharana - 132* in August 1992). Valiant. pic.twitter.com/S0mcxBs6ug

— OptaJim (@OptaJim) February 7, 2025

"We need to keep their first-innings total to as little as possible. The bowlers will be fresh tomorrow and they will be raring to go. We want to get back into the game."

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 2: Carey, Smith’s Centuries Put Australia In Complete Command

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Mendis' knock was the second-highest unbeaten score in Test history by a Sri Lanka player batting at number seven or lower versus Australia7xm, after Romesh Kaluwitharana's unbeaten 132 in 1992.