Mitchell Marsh, Usman Khawaja pile on the runs as Western Australia-Queensland Shield fixture ends in draw

Mitchell Marsh. (Source – Getty Images)

Match 3 between Western Australia and Queensland in the ongoing edition of the Sheffield Shield saw quite a few international regulars as well as players in the limelight for probable selection for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

While Mitchell Marsh impressed with a majestic 94 to motor Western Australia to a healthy 263 after they declared to set Queensland a target of 362 from 62 overs, Usman Khawaja and skipper Marnus Labuschagne looked in fine touch on a mellow WACA track which did no offer a lot of assistance to bowlers.

Marsh, who didn’t bowl a single over to manage his workload, seemed at his confrontational best, but played a risk-laden shot to be caught behind to deny himself a century. Josh Inglis was named the Player of the Match after a splendid 122 in the first innings, which was followed by 48 in the second. Queensland’s wicketkeeper Jimmy Peirson was also in action in Western Australia’s second innings as he gobbled up four of the six wickets to fall.

With there being reports of Cameron Green’s unavailability against India, a perfect opportunity was squandered by Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft, with the latter copping a pair after similar dismissal in both the innings. Michael Neser got the better of Bancroft on both occasions. Neser, who registered figures of 5/68 in the first innings, thoroughly impressed Labuschagne.

“Phenomenal bowler, and I was very happy how he started the season,” Labuschagne was quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

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Mitch is in for a big summer: Voges

Western Australia coach Adam Voges anticipates Marsh to roll over his arm in their next game against Tasmania. “Mitch is in for a big summer. His workloads are going to be managed very carefully by Cricket Australia. We are hopeful we might see Mitch with ball in hand for the next Shield match,” mentioed Voges after Day 3’s play.

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Aaron Hardie, a like-for-like replacement for the injured Green, missed the match with a quad injury. However, positive signs ensue as he is likely to return for the next match.