Dumped Test batsman Phil Hughes will have national selectors on high alert after smashing a double century for South Australia on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Hughes posted a career-best 204 to guide the Redbacks to 4-520 at stumps and claim first-innings honours after the Warriors were bowled out for 434 on Thursday.
Former Redbacks skipper Michael Klinger (125) also scored a ton while Australian Under-19 representative Travis Head fell two runs shy of a maiden hundred.
The hosts, who started the day on 0-148, will take a 86-run lead heading into Saturday’s final day of play with Tom Cooper and Tim Ludeman at the crease on 33 and 12 respectively.
Hughes and Klinger got the Redbacks off to the perfect start as they combined for a 253-run partnership – the fourth-highest opening stand by South Australian batsmen in Shield cricket.
Klinger was dismissed just after lunch when he was caught and bowled by Warriors speedster Ryan Duffield (3-114).
But Head ensured the Redbacks would not lose any momentum with an aggressive knock that saw him bring up a half-century from 71 balls.
He put on 167 with Hughes for the third wicket before the former NSW opener’s 533-minute stay at the crease was ended when he was run out by Nathan Coulter-Nile’s sharp throw at stumps.
Hughes exited to a standing ovation as night watchman Trent Lawford (25) entered the fray and made his mark with two sixes and two boundaries.
Head was denied his hundred when he edged a Duffield delivery into the gloves of wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman.
Duffield then claimed a third victim when Lawford holed out to a diving Mitch Marsh at deep square leg.