Recalled Tom’s big day out
SOUTH Australian batsman Tom Cooper has made the most of a last-gasp reprieve, cracking 178 to leave Queensland on the ropes in their Sheffield Shield game in Adelaide.
The Redbacks are 4-382 at stumps in yesterday’s second day of play, a commanding 151run lead over the Bulls.
Lismore product Cooper hammered his 11th first-class century after being a last-minute inclusion for the fixture.
The 31-year-old had been dropped but was recalled when teammate Callum Ferguson was ruled out before the opening day’s play because of a calf injury.
Cooper cashed in on his teammate’s misfortune, smacking 22 fours and two sixes in his aggressive 246-ball knock.
Cooper was superbly supported by Jake Lehmann, who is unbeaten on 76, and opener Jake Weatherald, who made 69.
Cooper figured in a telling 107-run partnership with the highly-rated Weatherald, who was in good touch but failed to convert his promising start into a big hundred which could have raised his Test selection reckoning.
The left-handed Weatherald fell when nicking an attempted drive outside off stump from the bowling of Luke Feldman (1-55).
SA captain Travis Head put on 62 runs in a stand dominated by Cooper before he was caught behind for 16 from Michael Neser (1-49).