Cricket fans were left stunned by Steve Smith’s latest dismissal—a moment that can only be described as shocking and uncharacteristic. The Australian stalwart, known for his precision and composure, had a brain-fade moment that turned the tide of the match. Australia is currently facing Sri Lanka in the first ODI of the two-match series, and as the reigning ODI World Champions, they were expected to dominate. However, things haven’t gone as planned.
Sri Lanka, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, found themselves in early trouble. Wickets tumbled, and the top order struggled to find any rhythm. Just when it seemed they were heading for a below-par total, captain Charith Asalanka played a captain’s knock, smashing a brilliant 127 off 126 balls. His heroic innings single-handedly lifted Sri Lanka to a fighting total of 214 before they were bowled out.
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Given Australia’s formidable batting lineup, the target seemed well within reach. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers had other plans. With the new ball doing wonders, they struck early, reducing the visitors to a precarious position. At this point, Steve Smith walked out, carrying his excellent Test form, and fans expected him to anchor the innings and steer Australia out of trouble.
BOWLED 😮
Wellalage picks Smith up with his very first delivery #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/RxMKXyLy7n
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 12, 2025
But what followed was a moment of sheer recklessness. On 12 off 17 balls, Smith faced a full delivery from Dunith Wellalage, angled towards the off and middle stump. Rather than playing a conventional stroke, Smith attempted an ambitious across-the-line heave over deep mid-wicket—a shot completely out of character for someone of his technique. He misjudged the ball entirely, missing it as it crashed into his stumps. It was an inexplicable shot from one of the best batters in the world, leaving even his staunchest supporters baffled.
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Smith’s dismissal further deepened Australia’s crisis. With their most experienced batter back in the pavilion, the pressure mounted, and Sri Lanka tightened their grip on the game. As the innings progressed, the Aussies found themselves slipping further into trouble, struggling to keep up with the required run rate.
With the game slipping away, Australia now faces an uphill battle to salvage a win. Smith’s dismissal will undoubtedly be one of the major talking points of the match, raising questions about shot selection under pressure. Whether Australia can recover from this collapse remains to be seen, but Sri Lanka has certainly put them on the back foot in this contest.
