Usman Khawaja was stranded simply short of a peak double-century when rain cut off Australia’s run plunder versus South Africa in the 3rd Sydney Test on Thursday. In another dominant day for the Australians with the series currently won, Khawaja peeled an imperious unbeaten 195 – his greatest Test rating – while Steven Smith passed a Don Bradman’s century landmark with his 30th hundred. At the rain-enforced close on day 2, Australia were 475 for 4 with Matt Renshaw– who evaluated favorable for Covid-19 at the start of the match– 5 not out. The runs kept streaming on another demoralising day for the Proteas. Khawaja and Smith shared in a 209-run stand and Travis Head rammed house the effort with a blistering 59-ball 70 to leave the visitors yet once again dealing with the uphill job of avoiding Australia from declaring a series whitewash. Khawaja exceeded his previous greatest rating of 174 made versus New Zealand in Brisbane in 2015. Smith passed Bradman’s 29 Test hundreds with a stunning pull shot off Anrich Nortje to the border ropes to declare a home-town hundred off 190 balls. He was out 2 balls later on for 104 when he innocuously broke back a catch to Keshav Maharaj for the left-arm spinner’s very first wicket of the series. Along the method, Smith likewise surpassed Michael Clarke to end up being Australia’s fourth-highest Test run-getter with 8,647 behind Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh. Just Ponting (41) and Waugh (32) have actually scored more Test centuries for Australia than Smith, who is 2nd just to the never-ceasing Bradman (99.94) with an existing Test average of 60.89 in his 92nd Test match. Khawaja non-stop collected on his 3rd successive Sydney Test hundred and when rain ended play with 14 overs left he had actually dealt with 368 balls with 19 fours and a 6. Prior to lunch, Khawaja danced a celebratory jig after clipping Kagiso Rabada for 2 through deep square to raise another hundred at his most efficient ground, where he balanced 98 entering into this Test. It followed twin centuries versus England in 2015’s matching Sydney Test. “I matured here simply up the roadway and my household is here seeing, I have buddies out in the crowd, it’s constantly an honour to score runs here,” Khawaja stated. “It’s a sluggish wicket and if we get excellent weather condition it will certainly separate and very first innings runs will be vital.” Just England’s Wally Hammond, Australian Doug Walters and India’s VVS Laxman have actually scored 3 successive Test centuries at the popular Sydney Cricket Ground. Head struck another common rumbustious half-century prior to he was remarkably captured on the ropes by replacement fielder Rassie van der Dussen off Rabada. The Australians have actually currently finished up the three-match series after hammering the Proteas by an innings and 182 runs in Melbourne after their six-wicket thrashing in the opener in Brisbane inside 2 days. Far in this one-sided three-Test series, the Australians have actually generated 1,303 runs for the loss of 26 wickets– at a typical per wicket of 50. South Africa, on the other hand, have 644 runs for the loss of 40 wickets at 16.1. Apart from the pursuit of a series whitewash, Australia are attempting to secure a location in the ICC World Test Championship last in London in June. rsm/ssy
Khawaja on cusp of double load as Australia demoralise Proteas – Kalkine Media
