Flashback: Steve Smith’s Lord’s Masterclass from 2015

On June 28, 2015, Steve Smith stamped his authority in the Ashes 2015 as he played a scintillating innings of 215 (346) in the second Test at Lord’s, London. Coming into the game, the Australian vice-captain was under fire as he was dismissed cheaply in both innings of the first Test of the series at Cardiff. However, the world’s number 1 batter made amends in the second game as he walked in to bat in the first innings with Australia on 78/1.

The Sydney-born batter, who had left the cricketing fraternity awestruck with his stupendous performances in Test Series vs India and the ODI World Cup 2015 earlier that year, was determined to score big. The batting maverick got set at the crease and added 284 runs for the second wicket with Chris Rogers and piled on the misery on England.

A marathon innings

Smith’s innings was studded with 25 fours and a six as he brought up his first double hundred of his career. Courtesy of his knock, Australia posted a monumental total of 566/8 in the first innings. In reply, England got bundled out for 312 in their first innings.

Smith further piled on the agony for England in the second innings as he notched up a half-century in the second innings. The Aussie batter batted an impressive strike rate of 120.83 and scored 58 off 48 balls with the help of nine fours in his innings.

Australia declared their second innings on 254/2 and set a target of 509 runs for England in the fourth innings. The hosts were bundled out for 103 runs as Australia won the match by 405 runs. Smith was deservedly awarded Player of the Match for scoring 273 runs during the game.

Smith further scored another hundred during the series and finished as the highest run scorer of the series with 508 runs to his name from nine innings. However, his incredible performance went in vain as Australia lost the series by 2-3.