The Australian opener, Usman Khawaja was at his imperious best on day 2 of the third Test between Australia and South Africa as he remained unbeaten on 195, his highest score in Test cricket. Steve Smith managed to score his 30th Test ton while Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head slammed half-centuries to help Australia end the day at a healthy 475/4.
Khawaja was five runs short of a maiden double-century when play was abandoned on day two of the third Test against South Africa on Thursday, with Australia in complete command at 475 for four. The opener was on a career-high score of 195 not out, with Matt Renshaw coming out of his COVID-19 segregation to be unbeaten on five when a shower stopped the resumption in Sydney. Khawaja produced some entertainment for the crowd as well after reaching his ton as he broke into a happy jig.
Here is the video of the celebration from Usman Khawaja:
Three tons in a row in Sydney! 🕺
Usman Khawaja rules the SCG! #OhWhatAFeeling#AUSvSA | @Toyota_Aus pic.twitter.com/TOdzk8SrXh
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2023
After Steve Smith scored his 30th Test ton before tea, Travis Head hammered a Twenty20-style 70 from 59 balls after getting dismissed break before holing out in the deep. The match is a dead rubber after Australia took an unassailable lead in the series with wins in Melbourne and Brisbane, but Pat Cummins’s side can book their place in the World Test Championship final with another win.
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Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja earlier collected his 13th test ton to continue his love affair with the SCG, which is just down the road from the two-bed flat he grew up in. He reignited his international career in last year’s New Year’s Test at the venue, scoring back-to-back centuries against England.
Nearly an hour into the second session, Usman Khawaja, on 119, cut Rabada straight to the point where a startled Anrich Nortje misjudged the flight of the ball. It brushed past his leg on the way to the fence, leaving Rabada fuming.
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Usman Khawaja struck three fours off Rabada in the next over, with two edges racing between the lone slip and gully. Teaming up with Smith to attack Maharaj, Khawaja drove a half-volley off the spinner through the covers to surpass the 150-run mark. Moments later Smith pulled Nortje for four to bring up his ton but he was out soon after, spooning a simple catch to Maharaj.
