Usman Khawaja’s first-class career has come to an abrupt end after Queensland failed to qualify for the Sheffield Shield final.
Queensland fail to overtake South Australia on Sheffield Shield table
Queensland needed to score bonus points and beat Tasmania in their ongoing Sheffield Shield encounter, while also hoping second-placed South Australia faltered in their game against Victoria. Unfortunately, neither scenario fell in Khawaja and Queensland’s favour. Notably, bonus points are on offer for teams who score above 200 runs, and for each wicket they take during the first 100 overs of the first innings.
There was some hope for Queensland after they bowled out Tasmania for 198 in the first innings, with Michael Neser bagging a five-wicket haul. But without Khawaja, who isn’t playing the match as he awaits the birth of his third child, his side were bowled out for 178, failing to claim first-innings lead and also bonus points for scoring 200 runs.
South Australia, meanwhile, scored 305 in their first innings against Victoria, getting bonus points for scoring more than 200. They also picked five wickets in the first 100 overs. Even if Queensland register an outright win over Tasmania as they chase 342 on day four, they will not be able to overtake second-placed South Australia on the table. Victoria have taken the top spot and booked a home final.
Match 30, Tasmania vs Queensland
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Khawaja’s first-class career thus has now come to an end, as he had confirmed that the ongoing Shield season would be his last. He played his last Test earlier this year, lining up for Australia against England during the Ashes Sydney Test.
The southpaw finishes his first-class career with 15,589 runs in 229 games at 43.18, featuring 43 hundreds and 74 fifties, with a top score of 232. In the Sheffield Shield, he played 93 games, scoring 6,510 runs at 46.83, including 19 centuries. His Test figures read 6,229 runs in 88 matches at 42.95 with 16 tons and 28 half-centuries.
Also read: Australia's Test openers, ranked: Why Usman Khawaja is top three
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