Australia vs South Africa: Steve Smith scores 30th Test century, passes legendary Donald Bradman

Australia were put in firm control after twin centuries on Day 2 of the Sydney Test match on Thursday, January 5.

Former captain Steve Smith scored the 30th century of his Test career and in the process surpassed the legendary Donald Bradman, one of the greatest ever batters to play for Australia.

Smith scored 104 runs off 192 ball which included 2 sixes and 11 boundaries. Smith’s century came off a ferocious pull shot after he defended a couple of balls from South Africa speedster Anrich Nortje. The Australian batter narrowly missed his century after looking good at Melbourne. He had scored 85 runs in Australia’s first innings in the game.

Smith’s century takes his run tally to 8647 runs, fourth highest in the history of Australia’s Test cricket. The list is led by Ricky Ponting, who is followed by Alan Border, Steve Waugh and then Smith.

Smith accompanied Usman Khawaja, who scored started off from 54* on Day 1 and brought up his fourth successive century in Sydney. The duo put together 209 runs from 377 balls against the visiting side, who looked hapless against the solidity of both batters.

Smith was dismissed by Keshav Maharaj just after his century, when the batter lobbed a full toss from the lower half of his bat, straight in the hands of the bowler himself.

At the time of writing, Australia are 378/3 in 114 overs with Khawja and Travis Head in the middle. Australia will be looking to cap off the New Year Test with another victory, which will result in a clean sweep against South Africa.