Khawaja falls late to Boland as Victoria puts brakes on Queensland

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Khawaja falls late to Boland as Victoria puts brakes on Queensland


Queensland 106 for 5 (Khawaja 31, Boland 2-25) trail Victoria 300 over December 7 (Harris 73, Handscomb 66, Wildermuth 3-49) by 194 runs

Victoria’s generous statement has paid off as Queensland’s top order faltered and Usman Khawaja fell late during the Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG.

Victoria declared 300 for 7 shortly after lunch on the second day. In response, Queensland fell to 42 for 3 before limping to 106 for 6 at stumps, with Jimmy Peirson and Jack Wildermuth unbeaten.

Khawaja put up stiff resistance with 31 off 101 balls but was out five minutes before stumps when he edged pacer Scott Boland. The latest scalp has put Queensland really on the defensive in the bottom of the table clash.

Boland was the standout bowler with figures of 2 for 25 in 17 overs, while Fergus O’Neill and Will Sutherland also tied down the Queensland batsmen.

Victoria resumed play on Friday at 201 for 4, but Sutherland only added two runs to his overnight score before shouldering a delivery from Gurinder Sandhu that deflected back and hit the top of the stump. Sam Harper fell for a 17-ball duck to reduce Victoria to 213 for 6.

Campbell Kellaway did his best to help steady the ship making 48 off 159 balls but was sent packing when he was also bowled after shouldering his arms.

Mitchell Perry and O’Neill made 33 not out in an important 61-run stand before Victoria declared. Wildermuth was the pick of the Queensland bowlers with 3 for 49 in 27 overs, while Liam Guthrie contributed 2 for 72.

Queensland’s innings started poorly, with Matt Renshaw edging O’Neill at first slip. The Bulls went from 37 for 1 to 42 for 3 when Joe Burns and Bryce Street failed to capitalize on solid bases.

Jack Clayton became the next batsman to squander a steady start when debutant Doug Warren caught him LBW for 21.

“It’s pretty much what dreams are made of,” Warren said of his first first-class finish at the MCG. “It’s what everyone wants to do.”

Warren was spurred on by a parish group of supporters in the crowd.

“They were acting like pork chops today,” he said with a smile. “I have a couple of hooligans from school, a couple of college friends, and then the old man and a couple of his friends; they had a couple at the bar.

“They’re a little drunk, but they’re having a little fun.”