After dismissing Kane Williamson and David Warner in his previous game, Josh Tongue got the wicket of Steve Smith at The Hundred on Wednesday (August 13).
Warner, Williamson, Smith - Josh Tongue adds to high-profile list of victims
Tongue came into his second game of the 2025 edition of The Hundred, against Welsh Fire at Cardiff, on the back of an excellent show against the London Spirit, where his 3-29 included the wickets of Williamson and Warner.
Immediately before that, he had an excellent Test series against India, where he was the only English bowler to dominate Ravindra Jadeja, whom he dismissed four times at 13.75 per wicket. Against the other English bowlers, Jadeja amassed 461 runs at 230.50.
Here, Welsh Fire posted 137-8 after Manchester Originals captain Phil Salt won the toss and opted to field. Sonny Baker got Jonny Bairstow in the first five-ball set of the innings, but Smith settled down. He lofted Tongue for six on the off-side, and leg-glanced and steered Baker to the fence to pick up two fours.
Salt had taken Tongue off after one over, but recalled him for the sixth set. Smith sent the second ball flying over extra cover for four, but these were the only runs Tongue conceded off the first four balls of the set.
Against the fifth, Smith made an early movement away towards the leg-side, presumably eyeing the off-side boundary. Perhaps noticing this, Tongue not only took the pace off but also held the length back a bit. Smith tried to slog, but the ball took the edge and went to Jos Buttler, and Smith had to walk back for a 22-ball 26.
Tongue continues stronghold over Smith
Smith and Tongue had clashed before, in the Lord’s Test of 2023. Smith made 110 and 34 in that Test, but Tongue (3-98 and 2-53) got him in each innings. He had dismissed Warner in each innings of that Test as well.
Playing for Worcestershire earlier that summer, Tongue had trapped Smith leg-before: the Australian was representing Sussex.
Smith’s score remained the joint-highest of the innings Tom Kohler-Cadmore also hit 26 in 16 balls as Welsh Fire got to 137-8. Tongue got 3-25 and Scott Currie 3-21 from their respective 20-ball spells.
In response, the Originals folded for only 112 against David Payne (3-14), Riley Meredith (4-9), and Chris Green (3-19). The only innings of note was Buttler’s 34-ball 57.
Match 12, Welsh Fire vs Manchester Originals
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