queensland Trail 96 by 2 (Khawaja 58) New South Wales 239 for 143 runs
Test opener Khawaja seemed immune to the form struggles that plagued those vying to join him at the top for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, helping Queensland advance in response to NSW’s 239.
Wet weather meant only one delivery was made in the final two sessions, and Queensland were 96 for 2 when play was suspended late on Saturday.
Khawaja scored his second first-class half-century for the summer with the second of his two sixes – hard work from Tanveer Sangha.
But his entries were not without controversy. NSW’s Ryan Hadley thought he had caught Khawaja at fine leg while bowling Sangha about an hour into the game, only for him to remain in the crease following consultation between the umpires. Khawaja, who was 29 at the time, had earlier survived an lbw shout off Josh Hazlewood’s bowling.
But the disgraced Renshaw failed in his bid to reassert his Test credentials, caught lbw by Sangha for 25 later in the first session.
Wet conditions meant only one ball was bowled in a delayed second session, but it could hardly have been more crucial for NSW.
Khawaja edged Edwards off Ollie Davies in the stands as the rain continued to fall, with the teams returning to the pavilion before another delivery could be bowled.
