BRISBANE: Marnus Labuschagne scored 192 to put Queensland in a commanding position to win the Sheffield Shield first-class cricket title in Australia.

New South Wales were 140-5 in their second innings, still trailing by 106 runs, when bad light stopped play on Saturday at the Allan Border Field on day three of the scheduled five-day match.

Sean Abbott was not out 20 and Baxter Holt unbeaten on 10 after Xavier Bartlett claimed 3-31 for Queensland. But the day belonged to Labuschagne as the star Australia Test right-hander struck 21 boundaries in his near 10-hour, 353-ball innings to steer Queensland to 389 and a commanding first-innings lead of 246 runs.

Indian Premier League duties meant New South Wales were without Australian Test players Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, David Warner and Moises Henriques.

Queensland earned hosting duties by leading the Shield table, 1.66 points clear of New South Wales.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2021