(Cricket News) In the Canberra tour game against Pakistan, the batsman Matt Renshaw achieved his half-century, reaching the milestone with a well-run seven on Day 3. The noteworthy moment occurred in the 78th over of Prime Minister XI’s innings when Renshaw executed a skillful cover drive, which was adeptly stopped by Mir Hamza after a determined pursuit. Although Hamza’s swift action prevented an immediate run, his subsequent throw to the non-striker’s end, where Babar Azam collected and aimed for wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed, unfortunately resulted in an overthrow, contributing an additional four runs to Renshaw’s total.
Approaching the tea break on Day 3, Renshaw showcased a composed innings, tallying 99 runs off 251 balls. His performance in this four-day game, recognized as a virtual selection trial to find a replacement for the retiring David Warner, positions him favorably against fellow opening contenders Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft.
With a Test career marked by sporadic appearances over seven years, Renshaw’s current innings reflects promise, particularly as his competitors struggled to capitalize on their starts. Pakistan had previously declared their innings at 391 for 9, with Captain Shan Masood remaining unbeaten on an impressive 201, complemented by valuable contributions from Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed.
In response, the openers of the Prime Minister’s XI, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris, established a solid foundation with a 96-run opening stand. Batting at No. 3, Renshaw played a pivotal role in stabilizing the team alongside all-rounder Cameron Green, forming an 86-run partnership for the third wicket. Presently, Renshaw remains unbeaten, having established a significant 102-run partnership for the fourth wicket with skipper Nathan McSweeney.
