Jake Weatherald’s century drought is finally over, with the Australian Test opener notching his maiden century for Leicestershire in the County Championship over the weekend.
The 31-year-old cracked a 114-ball hundred during the first innings of Leicestershire’s drawn contest against Glamorgan in Cardiff, a knock that featured 14 boundaries. It was the left-hander’s first first-class century since July last year.
However, he was forced to retire hurt late on day two due to apparent soreness in his left leg, leaving the field with suspected cramp and finishing unbeaten on 104. New South Wales seamer Ryan Hadley claimed 2-90 from 23 overs at Sophia Gardens, while he remains Glamorgan’s leading wicket-taker of the season with 12 scalps at 25.91.
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Courtesy of his high-scoring feats for the Tigers and Australia A during the 2024/25 season, Weatherald earned a maiden national call-up for the recent home Ashes series, but found himself at risk of losing his spot following an underwhelming campaign against England, averaging 22.33 across the five Tests.
However, the Tasmanian was awarded a national contract earlier this month, suggesting he is firmly in contention to open alongside Travis Head next summer.
Weatherald has accumulated 314 runs at 104.66 across three games for Leicestershire this season, boosting his chances of featuring in next year’s Ashes tour of the United Kingdom.
Elsewhere, former Australian opener Marcus Harris continued his red-hot form for Lancashire by hitting 146 from 265 balls against Durham at Chester-le-Street, his second century of the season. None of his teammates managed more than 44 in the innings.
The 33-year-old Victorian, who struck 21 boundaries, benefited from a dropped chance by rival captain Ollie Robinson on 22, making of the most of the early reprieve to notch his 35th first-class hundred. He’s currently the leading run-scorer of County Championship Division 2 with 360 runs at 60.00.
Lancashire assistant coach Will Porterfield revealed that no cricketer had accumulated more runs across their first 24 innings for the county.
“He’s been incredible, carrying on from where he left off last season,” Porterfield said of Harris.
“Long may it continue.”
Harris was dismissed for 12 in the second innings before Durham chased a 336-run target courtesy of hundreds from Emilio Gay and David Bedingham, with the hosts sealing an eight-wicket win.
West Australian captain Sam Whiteman scored his maiden century for Yorkshire during this week’s drawn match against Sussex in Leeds, posting 101 from 195 balls and passing triple figures with a six.
“To score my first hundred, especially at home, for Yorkshire was special,” the 34-year-old said at stumps on day three.
“I felt good out there.”
Having switched allegiances and defected to the UK as a local player on a British passport, ending any chance of representing Australia, Whiteman recently committed his future to Yorkshire on a three-year contract. He was born in Doncaster, down the road from Yorkshire’s home ground.
During the same match, Sussex opener and former New South Wales representative Daniel Hughes was dismissed for 10 and a duck, while Australian Test seamer Jhye Richardson was battered around the park in the first innings, leaking 0-131 from 21 overs. The West Australian quick redeemed himself in the second innings with a respectable 2-59, including the dismissal of Hughes.
Meanwhile, captain Cameron Bancroft celebrated his first victory of the season with Gloucestershire, defeating Derbyshire by ten wickets. The West Australian opener contributed 40 and 19 not out with the bat, while Tasmanian fast bowler Gabe Bell claimed six wickets, making it comfortably his best performance of the County Championship season to date.
Tigers opener Caleb Jewell notched 28 and 10 for Derbyshire in a losing cause.
Elsewhere, Australian all-rounder Beau Webster had an uneventful outing for Warwickshire at Trent Bridge, scoring 25 and taking three wickets in a drawn match against Nottingamshire, while down in London, New South Wales quick Sean Abbott snared two wickets in Surrey’s stalemate against Essex at The Oval.
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