Victorian opener Campbell Kellaway has cemented his status as a future Test prospect by cracking a stylish century, his third of the last 12 months, against Tasmania at Melbourne’s Junction Oval on Thursday.
The 22-year-old, Victoria’s leading run-scorer of last season’s Sheffield Shield, passed triple figures in 184 deliveries during the second innings to put the hosts in a commanding position at the St Kilda venue.
The Victorians were in a spot of bother at 4-91 before Kellaway and Marcus Harris combined for a 195-run partnership for the fifth wicket, extending the team’s lead beyond 300.
Kellaway was dismissed in the evening session by Tigers speedster Riley Meredith after top-edging a pull shot towards deep square leg, gone for 147. His knock featured 16 boundaries and two sixes.
The East Sandringham product got his Sheffield Shield campaign off to a sluggish start with scores of 0, 40, 3, 47 and 6, but he remains a candidate to replace Usman Khawaja in the Test side when the veteran opener decides to hang up the boots.
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Later on Thursday, Harris brought up his 33rd first-class century, passing the milestone in 193 deliveries. Batting at No. 6, it was the left-hander’s first Sheffield Shield hundred of the summer having start with scores 61, 13, 4 and 20.
Although he has previously opened for Australia at Test level, Harris has since found a new home in the middle order for Victoria, mostly batting at No. 3 this season.
Victoria declared at 5-330, with Harris unbeaten on 101, setting Tasmania a 355-run target for victory.
Tasked with surviving an awkward passage of play before stumps on day three, Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald was dismissed for 12 after edging a beauty from Victorian seamer Fergus O’Neill towards the slips cordon, damaging his chances of an Ashes call-up.
The Tigers were 1-28 at stumps, still trailing by 327 runs.
Elsewhere in the Sheffield Shield, Ashes hopeful Matthew Renshaw chopped on for 29 after combining with Khawaja for a 94-run opening partnership at the Gabba, dismissed by New South Wales captain Jack Edwards. The left-hander failed to get his bat out of the way while leaving outside off stump, with the inside edge ricocheting into the pegs.
The 29-year-old is one of the leading contenders to open the batting during this summer’s Ashes campaign, along with Bulls captain Marnus Labuschagne, Tasmania’s Jake Weatherald and Blues youngster Sam Konstas.
Khawaja was later dismissed by NSW seamer Charlie Stobo for 87, feathering through to the wicketkeeper, debutant Ryan Hicks.
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