Labuschagne is playing for Glamorgan in the County Championship 2023 alongside his Queensland teammate Michael Neser. While bowling in the second innings, Neser ended up with his best figures including a hat-trick, and now it was turn of the Queensland batter to put up a show.
Marnus Labuschagne scored 170 runs not out in 207 balls against decent bowling attack of Yorkshire. It was no suprise package because in the first innings, he has scored 65 runs off 166 balls so in was pretty obvious that a big innings was on its way.
It was 28th first class century for the Queenslander, his 7th for the Welsh county Glamorgan and his first at Headingly where he will play a test match of ashes series against the home side in a month.
In his commanding 207 balls innings, the right handed batter hit 25 boundaries and 1 six, leading Glamorgan to post 352/4 in the third innings of the match. Once Glamorgan went past lead of 300, Labuschagne shifted his gears into demolish mode and played some unorthodox shots like scoop, reverse scoop, sweeps and some eye wondering cover drives.
Marnus is enjoying himself out there 😁 This one goes the distance! 6⃣
Glamorgan 289/4 (lead by 428)
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 👉 https://t.co/ShvTxJRv1s#GoGlam | #YORvGLAM pic.twitter.com/R6PIOZ3tqO
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) May 6, 2023
A day earlier, Yorkshire were bundled out for 106 runs, due to the brilliant bowling of Michael Neser. The match ended in a draw as Yorkshire went on to score 412 runs for 9 wickets, Glamorgan falling short by 1 wicket to register an away win.
After having a quiet start of County Championship, this was a kind of innings that have Marnus Labuschagne the much needed momentum and confidence to build on his innings. It will definitely help Australia as they walk into World Test Championship final and 5 matches Ashes series.
“It hasn’t felt like it has come together until that innings. I hit a few nice straight drives, a couple of nice cover drives and a nice flick through mid-wicket. That’s probably the most I’ve felt balanced at the crease, I felt like my head position was in a nice spot, my bat path was coming down nicely,” Marnus Labuschagne said after the stumps of day 3.
“For me it is taking it game by game and trying to build up that momentum that leads into the World Test championship and the Ashes.”
On the fourth day of the game, Yorkshire needed 492 runs to win in 96 overs. The game was leading towards draw but a defiant innings of 176 runs from Yorkshire opener Adam Lyth put an end to Glamorgan’s hope to win.
They made a definite comeback but fell one wicket short and Jordon Thompson made 55 off 59 balls and remained unbeaten despite all efforts of Glamorgan bowlers.