Khawaja and Smith scored hundreds on day two of the third Test against South Africa in Sydney.
Usman Khawaja made his loftiest Test score, Steve Smith scored a corner century and Australia reached a commanding 475- 4 when rain forced an early end to the alternate day of the third and final Test against South Africa.
Khawaja made an unbeaten 195 off 368 balls, with 19 boundaries and a six, and had earlier on Thursday participated an grand 209- run cooperation with Smith, who made his 30th Test century and also came Australia’s fourth-loftiest run arranger in tests in front of his home Sydney Cricket Ground suckers.
Marnus Labuschagne( 79) and Travis Head( 70) both scored half- centuries as Australia dominated a placid South Africa attack and placed itself in a strong position to still force a result in a game that has had frequent bad light and rain detainments.
Khawaja raised his third successive SCG hundred before lunch and also pushed past his former loftiest test score of 174 — against New Zealand at Brisbane in 2015 — to close in on his demoiselle double- century.
Khawaja was given a life on 119 when he offered a sharp thigh- height chance which Anrich Nortje missed at gully after losing sight of the ball.
Before, Smith made 104 to go once Donaldo Bradman and join former Australia opening batter Matthew Hayden on 30 test centuries. Only Ricky Ponting( 41) and Steve Waugh( 32) have further among Australian men’s test players.
It was Smith’s fourth century at his home ground and came from 190 balls, with 11 boundaries and two sixes with the former captain entering a prolonged standing acclamation from the,663 SCG crowd.
Next over Smith minced a simple return catch to Keshav Maharaj( 1- 108) in what was the only mark in an else indefectible four- hour innings.
On the way to his rearmost ton Smith passed Hayden(,625 runs) and Michael Clarke(,643) for career runs and is now the fourth-loftiest Australian test run- scorer with,647 runs, behind Ponting(,378), Allan Border(,174) and Waugh(,927). Smith pars over 60 runs an innings across his 92 Tests.
After binary centuries in a triumphant return to test justice against England last time, Khawaja had earlier completed his 13th hundred out 206 balls, with nine boundaries as he and Smith serenely accumulated runs after continuing the day at 147- 2.
Khawaja made 137 and 101 not out against England in the Test then last time to force fully re-establish himself in Australia’s fur lineup after being dropped during the 2019 Ashes series.
Khawaja and Head combined for a brisk 112 run cooperation before Head drilled out in the deep off Rabada( 1- 119).
Shortly after play commenced on Wednesday, Australia platoon operation advised that batter Matt Renshaw — in the platoon for the injured Cameron Green — had reported feeling bad shortly before the match and had latterly returned a positive test for COVID- 19 but would still take part in the match.
Renshaw, in his first test since 2018, was separated from the remainder of his teammates and moved into another changing room at the SCG. He maundered as anticipated at No. 6 and was five not out at the end of the day’s play.
International Cricket Council regulations state Renshaw is permitted to play in the match as long he feels well enough, with the option for a suchlike- for- suchlike cover if he was unfit to play.
Australia has formerly won the series after two crushing palms in the first two Tests at Brisbane and Melbourne.
A palm for Australia in this third Test would confirm its place in the World Test Championship final to be played at Lord’s in England in June this time.
Australia batter Steve Smith dampened down talk of his withdrawal on Friday after suggesting it was by no means certain that he’d be still playing Test justice coming season.
The 33- time-old former captain scored his 30th Test hundred on the alternate day of the third Test against South Africa on Thursday, moving above Donald Bradman in the list of Australian century- makers.
Admitting his commentary in a news conference after the day’s play had been designedly “ cryptic ”, Smith said he’d no immediate plans to hang up his club.
“I ’m not going anywhere, I ’m comfortable with where everything’s at, ” Smith told Fox Sports before the launch of the third day of the final Test.
“We ’ve got a many good tenures coming up. I ’m agitated and I ’m still trying to get better.
“So, whilst I’ve that hunger and appetite to try and ameliorate, and particularly helping some of the youngish batters coming through, while I ’m doing all that, I ’m enjoying myself and I’ve no plans for withdrawal. ” Know More Test Cricket News…
