On a rainy day two of the Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia, Sam Konstas has helped New South Wales survive a challenging 20-over session, bringing the Blues to 137 for 1 at stumps. NSW had to struggle with an 80-minute interval before stumps on Saturday after rain wiped away the first five hours of day two at the SCG.
Blake Nikitaras edged speedster Lance Morris to Cameron Gannon in the gully at 38, costing the Blues one wicket.
With Konstas at 80 not out and the Blues getting closer to Western Australia’s first-inning total of 211, NSW otherwise survived.
Konstas was much more cautious in the shorter time on Saturday after soaring to 55 by stumps on Friday.
The opener blasted Corey Rocchiccoli back down the ground for four runs with his feet after squeezing out two boundaries behind point in one over against Gannon.
Lately, he gave Rocchiccoli a half-chance by sweeping him in the air to deep square leg, but Brody Couch put down a difficult diving attempt.
After Nikitaras fell, Tanveer Sangha was put in as a nightwatchman at No. 3 and likewise made it through 28 balls.
After scoring 107 against a Test-caliber Indian attack for the Prime Minister’s XI last week in Canberra, Konstas runs extended a severe purple streak for the opener.
His two Shield tons against South Australia at the start of the summer also put him in the running for a Test debut.
The 19-year-old is eager to push himself as soon as this summer and has made no secret of the fact that he feels prepared for the hardest level of the game.
If Australia alters their top order, he or Josh Inglis would probably be next in line, so a century on Sunday will only help his cause.
After three outstanding years with the bat in the Shield, Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster is also in Australia’s team; however, he is more likely to get a shot if a No. 6 spot becomes available.
Since this is the final Sheffield Shield round before the BBL break, Konstas runs have also come at a good moment.
Since Australia’s Test team will be in Sri Lanka for a two-match series by February, he and the other prospects won’t be playing Shield again until then.
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