Usman Khawaja will enter the Test series against Pakistan in top form after posting his second century of the Sheffield Shield season against Western Australia at the Gabba.
The Queensland captain held firm in seam-friendly conditions against a fired-up Jhye Richardson to guide his side to 8-274 with an unbeaten 102.
Marnus Labuschagne only lasted two balls in his return to red ball cricket after a swatted a short delivery from left-armer Liam Haskett into the hands of square leg for a duck.
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The Australian no. 3 departed with his side 3-65, but Khawaja and Jack Clayton (53) fought hard for a 116-run partnership.
Richardson bowled with superb rhythm in his first Shield outing for four weeks, dismissing Clayton and Jimmy Peirson caught behind with consecutive deliveries on his way to 4-36 from 23 overs.
After bowling only two overs in his last five ODI matches on a marathon tour with Australia, Cameron Green was thrown the ball early and finished with a tidy 0-17 from 11 overs.
Warriors opening pair Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman successfully negotiated two overs before the umpires called off play due to bad light.
Victorian keeper Sam Harper forged on with his record-breaking innings on day two of his side’s clash against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval and became the second fastest Shield player to 150 runs in an innings.
The diminutive right-hander blasted his way to the milestone off 99 deliveries, only three balls shy of David Hookes’ famous innings against Victoria in 1982.
Harper’s innings had seemingly given Victoria the upper hand in damp conditions, but Jake Fraser-McGurk turned the tables on his former state with a scintillating maiden first-class century.
After scoring the fastest domestic one-day hundred last month, Fraser-McGurk brought the same intent against the Victorian attack as he thrashed 12 boundaries in his 101 from 106 balls.
But his innings did not come without controversy – the 21-year-old was given out on 19 after swinging hard at a turning Doug Warren delivery outside the off-stump which bounced off Harper’s gloves and was caught by Peter Handscomb.
The Victorians began to celebrate but Fraser-McGurk stood his ground and was eventually allowed to stay at the crease – the visitors seemingly withdrawing their appeal despite apparent remonstrations from Handscomb.
It came a day after Handscomb initially refused leave the crease after edging the ball to Redbacks skipper Jake Lehmann at third slip, but was sent on his way by the umpires.
Bizarre scenes as Handscomb disputes out | 00:43
Fraser-McGurk’s innings and half-centuries to Liam Scott and Ben Manenti steered South Australia only 26 runs shy of its opponents in 252.
Alex Carey fell for just 1 in his return to the longer format after he was drawn into playing a Fergus O’Neill delivery which nipped away and caught his outside edge.
O’Neill finished with a five-wicket haul to move to 16 wickets for the season at an average of 17.88.
Former Sydneysider Lawrence Neil-Smith carried on from his five opening day wickets to claim career best figures of 7-58 in a tight clash between Tasmania and NSW at the SCG.
The Tigers went to stumps at 6-166 in reply to the Blues’ 224, with all-rounder Mitch Owen going to stumps unbeaten on 70 off 53 balls in a knock including six fours and four sixes.
Conditions favoured Tasmania’s Neil-Smith, who rediscovered his best form following a 2022-23 campaign ruined by injury, but limited the influence of Nathan Lyon, who bowled only five overs for 0-21.
NSW young gun Ollie Davies top scored in the first innings with 81 not out but suffered a hairline fracture of his finger while fielding on Tuesday.
The Blues were hopeful he could bat in the second innings if required.
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