Usman Khawaja makes Ashes case with another Shield century
Queensland captain Usman Khawaja is making a compelling case for an Ashes recall after scoring his second Sheffield Shield century in a row, while Matt Renshaw also reached three points as Queensland stunned Tasmania with a sword on the second day in Townsville.
Tasmania reached 4 for 150. Still 337 runs are outstanding in the first innings. When Queensland scored 6 for 487 after centuries from Khawaja, Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne.
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Usman Khawaja scored 174 runs against South Australia
Usman Khawaja continued his stellar form to register his 32nd first-class century against South Australia after scoring 174 runs. He hit 11 fours and four sixes on the spin duo of Jarrod Freeman and Tom Andrews of Tasmania. Khawaja shared a 155-run stand with Renshaw and looked well prepared for another 150-plus score, but he fell to Beau Webster. Who switched to offspin at a moderate pace to find the breakthrough.
Webster had no such luck with Renshaw who was brutal on the Tasmania captain. He also hit four sixes and 12 fours in his unbeaten 120. Renshaw’s first 50 was a four-for. But after that he scored 69 runs in his last 62 balls. He opened the 136th over of the innings at 97 and completed his 13th first-class century by hitting Webster for a four. He then hit three sixes in four balls, before Queensland scored just 500 runs.
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Usman was unable to replicate Tasmania’s top three Queensland batsmen
Usman Khawaja was unable to replicate Tasmania’s top three Queensland batsmen. All failed to convert the start. Tim Ward fell, hooking Gurinder Sandhu, straight down the throat of the deep square.
Conor Sully took a wicket on his first ball in Shield cricket. In which it took some quick bounce to find the outer edge of the Caleb Jewel. Charlie Wakim played well for 34 runs. He was taking the top lead for a short fine before he tried to sweep Matt Kuhneman. Kuhneman caught Jake Doran at short leg on a ball that turned and bounced.
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Webster held steady with Jordan Silk to see Tasmania see through the stumps. Silk played well for 45 not out. Although he was lucky to survive a bizarre moment. When he defended a ball on his foot so that he foolishly went to mid-off. Standing nearby, Renshaw handed the catch to keeper Jimmy Pierson, but the umpire could not ensure it was not touching the ground.