South Africa claim ODI sequence vs Aus | 02:23
Dane Heverin from Fox Sports activitiesSeptember 30th, 2026 7:58 am
Victorian wicketkeeper batter Sam Harper has pushed his case to be a last-minute addition to Australia’s Check squad in South Africa after scoring an unbeaten century on day certainly one of Australia A’s four-day sport in opposition to India A in Puducherry.
Australia A reached stumps at 7/282 after captain Peter Handscomb gained the toss and elected to bat first with Harper’s knock of 101 not out turning the game on its head.
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In his first appearance for Australia A and his first first-class match on international soil, Harper salvaged the visitors from a position of peril at 5/104.
The gloveman scored the bulk of his 677 Sheffield Protect runs last season opening the batting for Victoria after being shifted to the top following profitable the Large Bash’s player of the event.
He as a substitute walked out at No.7 for Australia A – with Harper given the gloves while Josh Philippe opened – but had no issues sliding down the order.
Harper hit seven four and smashed three sixes within the 146 deliveries to took him to achieve his sixth first-class century – two of which got here in the identical sport in opposition to Western Australia at the WACA in February.
He did the majority of the scoring in a 84-run partnership with South Australian all-rounder Liam Scott (34) earlier than once more doing a lot of the heavy lifting in a 89-run stand with spinner Todd Murphy.
Harper has the possibility to go greater on day two with fast Jhye Richardson (0*) for firm and the Australian selectors certainly watching carefully.
Josh Inglis’ fractured finger ruled him out of 50-over commitment after the primary ODI in South Africa and has his place within the Check squad in doubt.
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Harper stands as essentially the most like-for-like replacement for Inglis.
The 29-year-old – who debuted for Victoria a decade in the past – can function Alex Carey’s back-up with the gloves, while additionally boasting the flexibility to bat anywhere within the prime seven – a big attribute considering the unsure make-up of Australia’s batting line-up.
Further up the order, opener Sam Konstas fell for 2 from 25 balls after scores of 25 and 20 within the opening sport.
South Australian pair Nathan McSweeney (34) and Jason Sangha (46) each received begins but didn’t kick on.
Supply: www.foxsports.com.au
