Khawaja celebrates after scoring his fifth Test century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Usman Khawaja put on a show on the second day of the third Test in Adelaide as he scored an unbeaten 138 to give Australia a 48-run lead and keep them in charge against South Africa.
The 29-year-old made history with his hundred as he became the first Australian batsman since David Boon in December 1985 to make a century in his first innings as an opener in Test cricket.
Khawaja, though, received excellent support from Australia captain Steven Smith and debutant Peter Handscomb as they made 59 ad 54 respectively.
Starting off the day on 14/0, Khawaja and debutant Matt Renshaw only added five runs to the overnight score before Renshaw was dismissed by Kyle Abbott for 10 runs.
David Warner, who normally opens the batting but was not allowed to on Thursday as he had been off the field for too long prior to South Africa’s declaration, failed to have an impact as he joined Renshaw back in the pavilion after scoring 11 runs.
Having been dealt two blows early on in the day, Khawaja and Smith took it upon themselves to rebuild their side’s innings, and did so via a 137-run partnership, during which both batsmen surpassed their half-centuries.
With Australia beginning to cruise, Vernon Philander provided the breakthrough South Africa needed as he ran Smith out for 59, which came off 113 balls and included eight boundaries and a six.
Smith scored his 18th Test fifty
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Despite the loss of Smith, Australia continued to keep the Proteas under pressure as Khawaja and Handscomb kept the runs flowing with a 99-run stand, during which Khawaja brought up his fifth Test century and Handscomb his fifty, before the latter was clean bowled by Abbott for 54 off 78 deliveries, which included six boundaries.
Handscomb made a fifty on debut
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
South Africa struck twice more in quick succession as Kagiso Rabada took out debutant Nic Maddinson for a duck, while Philander removed wicketkeeper Matthew Wade for four runs.
Despite the quick flurry of wickets, Khawaja continued to stall tall for the Baggy Greens and with the help of left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc, they put together an unbeaten 24-run partnership before stumps was called.
Khawaja finished on 138 off 285 balls, which included 12 boundaries, while Starc remained undefeated on 16 off 50 deliveries, which included one boundary.
Abbott was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Rabada and Philander claimed one wicket each.
Australia ended day two on 307/6 and will continue batting on Saturday at 14:00 local time or 03:30 GMT.