Smith, Webster fifties help Australia recover after a stuttering start

Smith, Webster fifties help Australia recover after a stuttering start

Half-centuries from Steve Smith and Beau Webster led Australia's fightback on the opening day of the World Test Championship final. Australia scored 127 runs at a rate of close to five an over, getting to 190/5 at Tea, with Webster batting on 55 and Alex Carey (22*) for company.

Smith brought up his fifty with a well-executed cut shot for a four off Rabada and also took on Maharaj, pulling him for a boundary. The partnership worth 79 came to an abrupt halt as Aiden Markram got Smith to edge to slip. Webster and Alex Carey then dealt in regular boundaries as the former rode his luck and brought up a brisk fifty.

Earlier, the new-ball pair of Rabada and Jansen kept it disciplined with their lines and lengths. Labuschagne got Australia going with three couples off Jansen even as Rabada bowled a hat-trick of maidens to Usman Khawaja. Smith and Labuschagne then struck a couple of boundaries, overcoming an excellent spell from Rabada.