Sam Konstas has continued to flag his potential as a star of the future, writing his name alongside Ricky Ponting in the history books with another Sheffield Shield century.
The teenage opener put NSW in control of its clash with South Australia at Sydney’s Cricket Central, bludgeoning 105 from 225 deliveries after making 152 in a breakout first innings.
The hosts declared at 6-282 late on Thursday, with South Australia 1-7 chasing 389 runs for victory on day four after Nathan Lyon struck early to dismiss Connor McInerney without scoring.
Earlier, 19-year-old Konstas became the youngest player since Ponting to record two centuries in the same Shield match.
Ponting achieved the feat as an 18-year-old playing for Tasmania against Western Australia in the summer of 1992/93.
“Obviously very special,” Konstas said of matching Ponting.
“But hopefully we get the job done tomorrow and keep doing our basics well.”
Konstas was given an extra life by Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who dropped a sitter before the teenager got off the mark on day three.
Having also missed a stumping in the first innings, Carey saved face with a diving catch that dismissed Nic Maddinson (8) and continued the opener’s meagre start to his second stint at NSW.
But Konstas made the visitors pay.
He brought up his half-century off Lloyd Pope (2-84) in the 37th over with a four that rushed past extra cover so fast that Jordan Buckingham needed to jump to avoid the fence as he chased the ball past the boundary.
South Australia managed to slow Konstas down after tea as batting partners fell by the wayside.
“They had different plans, they were bowling a wider line,” Konstas said.
“I had to be a bit ruthless and cop my medicine a bit.”
Konstas brought his century up as the final hour of play approached, smacking a six over deep midwicket from Ben Manenti’s bowling.
South Australia finally sent Konstas packing just before 5pm AEDT, with McInerney sprinting to long-on to catch him off Pope.
Earlier, Lyon continued an impressive lead-in to the Test summer, finishing his first Shield innings with a five-wicket haul.
Lyon (5-47) ripped through the South Australian tail to leave the visitors all out for 260.
Webster scores century for Tasmania
All-rounder Beau Webster sent a timely reminder of his big-hitting capabilities to Australian selectors, belting a century as Tasmania took the lead in its Sheffield Shield match against Victoria.
Webster’s feats came as Bradley Hope (111 runs from 174 balls) recorded his second first-class ton, which helped Tasmania (9-527) to a 99-run advantage at the close of play on day three at Junction Oval.
But Webster’s century (113 from 183) came with the greater intrigue as selectors deliberate how best to fill Cameron Green’s shoes should the towering all-rounder miss the Border-Gavaskar Trophy through injury.
Webster came to the crease unbeaten on 30, with the Tasmanians trailing their hosts by 227 runs with six wickets in hand before play began on Thursday.
A 149-run partnership with Jordan Silk took Webster part of the way to triple figures, before the Tasmania captain was bowled by Sam Elliott (2-87) for 84.
Webster held firm and brought up a 12th first-class century by hitting Fergus O’Neill to point for a single early in the second session, having spent more than half-an-hour feeling his way through the nervous 90s.
But O’Neill had his man shortly thereafter, collecting Webster’s off stump for the breakthrough wicket on a batter-friendly deck.
The Victorians were not out of the woods, though, as Hope picked up where his former batting partner left off.
Durban-born Hope drove Cameron McClure through the covers for four to reach his century during the final session.
Wicketkeeper Sam Harper caught Hope in the fifth-last over of the day when the 25-year-old clipped O’Neill with an outside edge.
AAP