Sam Konstas has struck his second century in the space of a week to send national selectors yet another reminder he is ready for a Test recall.
Just days after posting scores of 71 and 151 not out in New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield draw with Western Australia, Konstas cracked 149 off 131 balls on Saturday to lead his side to a 78-run victory over the Warriors in the One-Day Cup at the WACA Ground.
NSW posted 8-371 on the back of the monster knock from Konstas combined with handy contributions from Josh Philippe (51), Jack Edwards (45) and Lachlan Shaw (44).
In reply, Sam Whiteman plundered 116 from 113 balls to give WA a faint hope of chasing down the mammoth victory target.
But with spinner Ashton Agar (43) and Ashton Turner (41) the only other WA batters to pass 40, the home side fell well short of what was required, bowled out for 293 in 46.3 overs.
The result left WA with a 0-3 record, all but ending its title hopes just three games into the season.
NSW moved into second spot with a 3-1 record.
But it remains to be seen how much longer its will have Konstas in its Shield and one-day ranks given his rich vein of form.
The 21-year-old burst onto the international scene in December 2024 when he made a memorable Boxing Day Test debut against India, scoring 60 in his maiden knock.
Konstas failed to pass 25 in his next nine Test innings, with his most recent appearance in the baggy green coming in July last year against the West Indies.
The talented opener has worked hard on his game over the past 15 months, and it was on full display on Saturday as he cracked 15 fours and four sixes in a masterful display.
And with Australia still crying out for an opener to make his mark ahead of a busy Test schedule, it seems just a matter of time before Konstas is donning the baggy green again.
Whiteman was brave in WA’s run chase, but he simply lacked the support needed.
Jack Nisbet snared 3-47 for NSW, including the key scalp of Whiteman in the 46th over, while Bryce Jackson chipped in with 2-58.
One rare highlight for WA came earlier in the day when Agar leapt high into the air to pull off a stunning one-handed catch at backward point to remove Ben Dwarshuis for 20.
AAP
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