Queensland batsman Usman Khawaja fell 15 runs short of a century in Sunday’s one-day clash in Canberra, his classy knock helping the visitors post a total of 6-292 against NSW.
Chris Hartley (87) and Khawaja put on an 154-run opening stand after being asked to bat by Blues captain Stephen O’Keefe, only for a middle-order collapse to rein in their hopes of a 300-plus total.
The Bulls lost four wickets in 20 balls, lurching from 1-211 to 5-225 including the dismissals of hard-hitting dangermen Nathan Reardon (two) and Luke Pomersbach (zero), who was playing his first game for Queensland after battling depression, drug and alcohol issues.
Peter Forrest (23 not out) and Joe Burns (32) then formed a 54-run partnership, but the Bulls’ big total was built on Khawaja’s fine work with the willow.
Khawaja, one of the leading contenders to replace Ricky Ponting in the Australian Test side, added further evidence to his case for a national recall before being run out after a mid-pitch tangle with Blues quick Josh Lalor.
The 25-year-old slipped, lost his bat, and was found well short of his ground by Moises Henriques’ direct hit at Manuka Oval.
Khawaja hung around, presumably seeking the umpires’ opinion on just how much Lalor impeded his running, but was on his way for a well-made 85.
The former NSW batsman peeled off 10 boundaries, including a couple of sweetly-timed cover drives, in his 102-ball stay at the crease.
However, he did offer the one chance while on six when Steve Smith dropped a catch at point.
Khawaja’s final audition before the first Test against Sri Lanka starts Friday week will be on Thursday, when he captains the Chairman’s XI in a three-day tour match against the tourists in Canberra.
His exit initially failed to halt the Bulls’ momentum, with fast bowler Ben Cutting deployed as a pinch hitter to great success.
Cutting slugged three sixes in a quick-fire 39 before falling to Henriques when O’Keefe snaffled a skied catch off the bowling of Henriques.
The wickets of Pomersbach, Reardon and Hartley, who was stumped by Brad Haddin off a wide from debutant legspinner Adam Zampa, followed soon after but the Bulls rallied.
