Khawaja’s ‘very special’ ton stamps Australia’s day one dominance

Friday, 10 March 2023 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Australia's Usman Khawaja celebrates his century against India yesterday - AFP

AHMEDABAD, AFP: Australia opener Usman Khawaja on Thursday said emotions took over after he struck his first Test century in India as the tourists dominated the opening day of the fourth match.

Australia reached 255-4 at stumps after they won the toss and elected to bat in their bid to square the four-match series at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

After a long grind, Khawaja was batting on 104 alongside Cameron Green, on 49, at close of play as the pair put together an attacking stand of 85. The left-handed Khawaja put on key stands including a 79-run third-wicket partnership with skipper Steve Smith, who made 38, to hand Australia a strong start.

The Pakistan-born Khawaja jumped up in joy after he raised the second hundred of a low-scoring series with a boundary in the final over of the day.

“A lot of emotion in that. I have been to India two tours before this and carried the drinks for eight Test matches, so it was a long journey to finally hit a hundred in India,” Khawaja told broadcaster Star Sports. “As an Australian, that’s what you want to tick off, so it’s very special.” Khawaja later told reporters: “Throughout the middle of my career I got told I couldn’t play spin and that’s why I never got an opportunity to play in India.” India skipper Rohit Sharma hit 120 in the opener, but is now second to the Australian opener, who leads the series batting chart with 257 runs.

It was Khawaja’s 14th Test ton in 60 matches since he made his debut in 2011.