Peter Handscomb carried his bat for an unbeaten 169 as Victoria declared on 402 for 5 against Western Australia on day two of their Sheffield Shield match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, turning a strong position into a commanding one.
Resuming on 131 not out overnight, with Victoria on 292 for 3, Handscomb batted through the morning session to finish on 169 off 323 balls with nine boundaries. His partner for much of the day was Blake Macdonald, who went on from 74 overnight to make 116 off 208 balls, his second first-class century, before falling to Ashton Agar. The pair added 204 runs in 387 balls for the fourth wicket, the stand that broke Western Australia’s resistance after Ashley Chandrasinghe’s 53 had helped Victoria recover from 44 for 2 on the opening day.
Victoria’s declaration came at 402 for 5 in 119.3 overs, with captain Will Sutherland unbeaten on 11, and the hosts immediately put the pressure back on the visitors. Sam Whiteman fell for 10, caught by Marcus Harris off Austin Anlezark, and Western Australia were 79 for 1 in reply at the time of writing, with Cameron Bancroft unbeaten on 37 and Jayden Goodwin on 20, still trailing by 323 runs.
The innings is another major statement from Handscomb in a season in which he is pressing hard for a Test recall. His 131 on the opening day was his first first-class century in 25 innings and his 31st in all, and he has now faced more than 320 balls in the match without offering a chance. Chair of selectors George Bailey has said Australia’s squad for the first Test against New Zealand in Perth, starting December 9, will be picked at the end of this round of Shield matches, and Handscomb’s timing could hardly be better.
The context strengthens his case. Marnus Labuschagne was dropped for the New Zealand Tests this week after 49 innings without a century, leaving a middle-order vacancy that the selectors must fill. Handscomb, who toured India recently with Australia A, has made his name as one of the best players of spin in the country, and he has now spent the best part of two days showing it against an undefeated Western Australia attack on a batter-friendly MCG pitch.
Victoria, winless after three rounds, could hardly have asked for a better start to the match, while Western Australia, the only unbeaten side in the competition, face a long fight to save it. The Shield round continues around the country, with the Test squad announcement to follow.
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