West Indies is currently touring Australia for a two-match Test series. The first match is currently underway at the Perth Stadium. The hosts, so far, have had complete domination in the game, with the batters doing their best job. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith have been the architects of Australia's brilliant show on the field.
Their massive collaboration propelled Australia past the 400-run mark. Continuing to have a good time, the two batters put on 251 for the third wicket before Labuschagne was caught at the stroke of lunch for 204, much to the relief of the visitors.
With the skies slightly overcast and the ball only eight overs old, West Indies would have hoped to break the overnight partnership early. That wasn't the case, as the pair got up and running quickly. In just the third over of the morning, the partnership surpassed 150. Early in the morning, Kemar Roach got some shape, and Jason Holder induced an edge, but the ball just evaded the slip fielder.
With the field spread out, the two batters could always count on easy singles to keep the scoreboard ticking. Smith welcomed Alzarri Joseph back to the crease with a boundary down the third-man region, racing into the nineties in quick time. While Labuschagne batted in the 190s for a while, Smith moved quickly to his 29th Test ton, equaling Don Bradman's record.
When Labuschagne edged a delivery while attempting to sweep Roston Chase, the keeper dropped the opportunity despite anticipating it. He eventually drove Jayden Seales past cover for his second career double-hundred before losing focus against Kraigg Brathwaite just ahead of the lunch break.
At lunch, the Kangaroos managed a score of 426 runs for the loss of three wickets. Smith stands unbeaten at 123, while Travis Head scored 15 runs.
In the meantime, Twitter was abuzz with Smith and Labuschagne's brilliance. "Australia's Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith remind me of India's star pair of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. Brilliant and focused batting," a user tweeted
Here's how Twitter reacted to Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne
29th hundred ๐ฏ for Steve Smith & 2nd double hundred for Marnus Labuschagne in Tests#AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/r8MhK1zOhR
โ Siva Sankar naidu pathipati (@sankar_sinny18) December 1, 2022
๐ 204 - Marnus Labuschagne
โ bet365 AUS (@bet365_aus) December 1, 2022
๐ 114* - Steve Smith
Labuschagne gets his second double Test century of his career. ๐
Smith equals Sir Donald Bradman on 29 Test centuries. ๐คฏ
The boys could be in for a big summer!#AUSvWI
Australia, @marnus3cricket & @Stevesmith49 all they way! The two run-machines piled up 251 runs together while bringing up personal milestones. Marnus Labuschagne got his 2nd double ton in Tests, while Steve Smith equaled Don Bradmanโs tally of Test hundreds. #AUSvWI #WIvAUS
โ Devarchit (@Devarchit) December 1, 2022
Marnus Labuschagneโs incredible double century has ended in disaster after he joined mentor Steve Smith on the Optus Stadium honours board ๐
โ Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) December 1, 2022
Follow our live coverage: https://t.co/xjgue4K2HS pic.twitter.com/ooPGDu4Yne
#QuickByte - Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne's last 4 Test partnerships: ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ญ, ๐ญ๐ฏ๐ฐ, ๐ฌ, ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฒ#SteveSmith | #MarnusLabuschagne | #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/GANx65xxF7
โ Cricket.com (@weRcricket) December 1, 2022
At Lunch on Day 2, AUS: 402/3, Marnus Labuschagne dismissed for 204, Steve Smith unbeaten on 114*
โ InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) December 1, 2022
Day 2 Lunch Report ๐ https://t.co/puOkYzzRc8#AUSvWI #MarnusLabuschagne #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/v5wEB2aCx6
Australia is on driver seat in Perth. Steve Smith reached his another test century. He has scored a ๐ฏ in the ongoing test against West Indies. Along with him Marnus Labuschagne scored a double century. Take a bow both ๐๐ฅ.#AUSvWI #WTC23 #stevesmith #MarnusLabuschagne pic.twitter.com/r7PGl3yxxy
โ Mrityunjoy ๐ฎ๐ณ๐ช๐ธ๐ฆ๐ท (@Mrityunjoy_offl) December 1, 2022
There's the 200 partnership between Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith! #AUSvWI pic.twitter.com/rdvZ6FRzIB
โ 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 1, 2022
Last 48 hours:
โ Soraceboy458 (@soraceboy458) December 1, 2022
Australia beat Denmark 1-0 to ensure a place in the round of 16 for the first time since 2006.
Marnus Labuschagne makes 204.
Steve Smith makes his 29th hundred equalling Bradman.
What a day to be Australian ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฆ๐บ๐ฆ๐บ
Australia' Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith remind me of India's star pair of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
โ Rajeev Rai ๐ฎ๐ณ (@Rajeev_Bharat) December 1, 2022
Brilliant and focused batting. #AUSvWI #AUSvsWI #MarnusLabuschagne #stevesmith