Australia’s Ashes preparations received a much-needed boost on Thursday as Test batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith hit sparkling centuries for NSW against Victoria.
NSW were bowled out for 353 at stumps on day two at the MCG, a lead of 117 in reply to Victoria’s first innings of 236 in their Sheffield Shield clash.
Smith hit 107 in a stylish knock that included 13 fours and two sixes, reaching his hundred off 160 deliveries.
Warner, who scored three hundreds in last month’s one-day domestic competition in Sydney, belted 16 boundaries in his classy 87-ball knock of 104.
After averaging 23 in three Ashes Tests in England earlier this year and scoring 21 and 15 in last week’s Shield opener against Tasmania, Warner lifted his game at first-class level with a series of lusty pulls and off-drives ahead of the Gabba Ashes Test on November 21.
Legspinner and Test hopeful Fawad Ahmed had a shocker for Victoria, claiming 1-91 off 21 overs, not helping his chances of a Test call-up.
Hard-working paceman John Hastings was the pick of the home side’s bowlers with 5-61 from 24 overs including the prize wicket of Test captain Michael Clarke (43).
Clarke and Warner shared a crucial 104-run stand for the third wicket after the Blues had been 2-59.
Warner reached his century off 84 balls with 15 fours.
But after an innings of measured aggression, the left-hander lost his cool three deliveries later, caught at mid-on after playing a loose pull shot at a wide ball from Scott Boland (2-69).
Clarke was out 12 runs later as Hastings removed the skipper lbw.
Peter Nevill (42) and Smith added 102 for the fifth wicket, guiding the Blues to first-innings points. Nevill was lbw to Hastings at 5-277.
Sean Abbott (nine) was caught at slip to Ahmed in the spinner’s only joy of the day.
Hastings struck with the second new ball to dismiss Steve O’Keefe (eight) and Siddle bowled Gurinder Sandhu (five) who was bowled without offering a shot, while Doug Bollinger (0) was the last man out.
NSW began their first innings at the start of day two, losing opener Nic Maddinson (three) and No.3 Scott Henry (13) before Clarke joined Test teammate Warner in a century partnership.