DEJA VU? Konstas’ BOLD stroke play pays off against Aussie royalty before spin prospect runs riot

Sam Konstas has displayed his flamboyant best against Australian royalty on Friday, helping spearhead New South Wales’ chase for a Sheffield Shield victory on Friday.

The 20-year-old wunderkind burst out of the blocks at Junction Oval, as his Blues attempt to chase down a target of 255 in the fourth innings against Victoria.

In shades of his Boxing Day Test debut last year, it didn’t take Konstas long to reverse ramp Scott Boland over the slips cordon for six just after lunch, leaving the Victorian fielders in complete disbelief.

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The right-hander is now considered most unlikely to front up for the first Ashes Test in Perth next month, however with two more Shield matches to go between now and then, could still make a last-minute case to retain his spot at the top of the order.

A dashing 94 from Jake Weatherald for Tasmania yesterday against Western Australia on Day 2 of their low-scoring affair will go a long way to helping him make his international debut, while Marnus Labuschagne’s 159 against South Australia has now emphatically locked him into Australia’s top order this summer.

Veteran opener Usman Khawaja looks all but certain to retain his place opening the batting too, after a solid start to his red-ball season with scores of 69 and 46.

Konstas reached his seventh first-class half-century, before departing for 53 — inside edging a Todd Murphy ball back onto his stumps. The wicket was Murphy’s second in four balls, after dismissing Blake Nikitaras for 39 in his previous over.

The 24-year-old off-spinner struck again not long after to leave NSW reeling at 4/121 at tea on Day 3, leaving Murphy with the frugal figures of 3/17 off eight overs.

Wicketkeeper Matthew Gilkes was somewhat controversially given out stumped off the bowling of Fergus O’Neill, adjudged to have lifted his foot at just the wrong moment — leaving sam Harper to quickly whip off the bails and his counterpart in total disbelief as he left the field.

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