Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne continued his solid run of form in the ongoing domestic season, bringing up an 89-ball century for Queensland in the One-Day Cup.
Marnus Labuschagne continues stellar domestic form
Queensland skipper Labuschagne brought up his fifth List A century, and his second in half a month to continue his great run of form in Australian domestic cricket. Switching between the One-Day Cup and Sheffield Shield, Labuschagne's two white-ball tons were separated by a 160 against Tasmania last week, his 33rd in first-class cricket.
On Thursday, Labuschagne headlined Queensland's total of 311, scoring 105 off 91 with the help of eight fours and two sixes. While only Jack Clayton crossed fifty among his teammates, Labuschagne was helped along by Matt Renshaw (38) and Lachlan Hearne (38). At one point, Queensland looked set for a 350+ score, but slipped from 273-4 in the 39th over to all out for 311 in the 46th.
Currently, table-toppers Tasmania are separated by one point from second-placed Queensland in the One-Day Cup points tally.
Labuschagne's century comes two days after he was axed from the Australia ODI side. Having managed just one fifty in his last 10 ODI innings, Labuschagne wasn't picked for the upcoming India series, with Renshaw, his Queensland teammate, getting a call-up after three years. Renshaw is yet to make his ODI debut.
There was a slice of luck for Labuschagne too: on 91, he was dropped by spinner Nikhil Chaudhary, who couldn't hold on to a caught-and-bowled chance. Known more for his copybook stroke-making, Labuschagne indulged in the odd unorthodoxy too: getting to his fifty with a ramp to the fine leg fence.
The 31-year-old might have missed out on an ODI spot, but is still eyeing a spot in the Ashes on the back of his domestic performances. He wasn't picked for the West Indies tour that followed the World Test Championship final, but is in line for a recall for the marquee series starting next month.
Also read: Australia squad for India series – Maxwell misses out, Starc back
Speaking after his Shield century earlier this week, Labuschagne indicated he was in a much better space.
"It felt like I was reading the conditions well," he said. "I took the game on at certain times. I feel like I've really stripped it back and my focus is just scoring runs - it's not really too technical ... just what I need out there to score runs."
With his latest showing, an Australia recall might not be far.
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