Smith wins, but fails to lick Tongue in Ashes preview

Perth Now

16 hours ago

A 100-ball thrash in Cardiff is a long way from a Test match in Perth, and not just geographically, but there was an Ashes sub-plot when Steve Smith faced up to Josh Tongue at Sophia Gardens.
Smith was opening the batting for a Welsh Fire side badly in need of a win after losing their first two Hundred Men matches. Tongue was opening the bowling for visitors Manchester Originals.
Fast forward 100 days and the pair could well be in opposition in the opening Ashes Test.
An uncapped Tongue was the first English bowler to dismiss Smith during the latter's spell with Sussex ahead of the 2023 Ashes. He then dismissed Smith in both innings of that year's Lord's Test, albeit the batter had already made 110 in the first dig.
So there was a bit of history as Tongue ran in to bowl at Smith in the Welsh capital on Wednesday.
Smith had already faced five balls from Sonny Baker, England's next fast bowling hope who rushed David Warner on Monday, surviving a tight lbw appeal first ball then cracking a wide one through cover for four.
Tongue's second ball was also widish, and Smith launched it for an extraordinary six over cover. Advantage Smith.
When Tongue returned for a second set Smith lifted him over the extra cover in-field for four. Tongue replied with a 145kph head-high bouncer that Smith, hooking, failed to connect with.
Smith charged the next ball, but Tongue saw him coming and dug it into the pitch. The Australian, swinging shoulder-high, could only thick edge to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, departing for 26 off 22.
It might not mean much come Perth, but dismissing Smith once more won't do Tongue any harm.
But given the context Smith won't be concerned. As he said beforehand: "You're going to fail more than you succeed in this format, so don't overthink things too much, go out and play with a free spirit, and hopefully make some scores."
With Baker having had Fire's other star opener, Jonny Bairstow, caught slip for a duck, Fire scrambled their way to 8-137 aided by a cameo from Chris Green.
Chris Green that is SENSATIONAL 🤯#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/6Ks5qUJfJn— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 13, 2025
Chris Green takes one of two superb catches to give Riley Meredith one of his four wickets
The Sydney Thunder allrounder smacked Baker for six over cow corner and four over mid-off, prompting three successive wides from the tyro. He also hit Tongue for six, but was then caught off him for 19 off nine.
Riley Meredith, bowling almost as quick as Tongue, soon made that target look huge, the Tasmanian taking 3-6 in ten balls to reduce Originals to 3-14.
Green dismissed Heinrich Klaasen, following up with the key wicket of Buttler (57 off 34) caught in the deep, finishing with 3-19 off his 20. He also took a couple of superb catches.
Meredith came back to bowl Baker and close with 4-9 off 17 balls, earning Fire victory by 25 runs.
Earlier, in Southampton, Hilton Cartwright was dismissed for one as Southern Brave were restricted to 5-139 by Northern Superchargers.
Laurie Evans, who has played BBL for Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers, top-scored with 53 and James Coles made 49. New Zealand duo Jacob Duffy (3-26) and Mitchell Santner (2-24) both shone in their 20-ball stints.
Superchargers looked to be easing to victory but Jofra Archer (2-15 off 20) took two late wickets and it came down to the last ball. Needing five to win Graham Clark (38no) slapped Tymal Mills for six.