Victorian batting prodigy Campbell Kellaway brought up an unbeaten century against South Africa’s formidable pace attack in the Cricket Australia XI tour match at Allan Border Field in Brisbane.
Facing the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje, the 20-year-old brought up triple figures on Saturday afternoon to cement his status as a rising star of Australian cricket.
Earlier, the Cricket Australia XI was in dire straits when Rabada and Ngidi ripped through the top order in the morning session, leaving the hosts reeling at 4/25.
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But Kellaway combined with Tasmanian wicketkeeper Jake Doran for a 143-run partnership for the fifth wicket to revive the innings and frustrate the Proteas.
Doran was eventually bowled by left-armed seamer Marco Jansen for 78, before Kellaway edged towards his century.
The left-hander smacked 14 boundaries before South African quick Gerald Coetzee rolled through the tail, ending the innings with a hat-trick.
Kellaway represented Australia at this year’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, finishing the tournament as the team’s second-highest run-scorer with 239 runs at 47.80, including two fifties.
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He made his first-class debut for Victoria against Tasmania last month, becoming the state’s 872nd Sheffield Shield cricketer.
Last week, Kellaway top-scored with a vital 81 in the second innings of Victoria’s 69-run victory over the New South Wales Blues, helping the state clinch an unlikely win at Junction Oval.
“There’s a lot of cricket going on at the moment, but I’m enjoying it and just trying to soak it all in and I’m trying to take it in my stride and not look too far into the future,” Kellaway said after the knock.
“It was good to get a few runs on the board … we just wanted to take it as deep as we could and try and build partnerships, I think that’s a real team focus at the moment.”
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Kellaway, the nephew of Richmond footballers Duncan and Andrew, also top-scored for Victoria in his List A debut, compiling 34 against Queensland in the Marsh Cup last month.
“He’s got good shot selection, he’s got a good temperament, he’s nice on the eye to watch in terms of his technique, and he’s got some power to go ahead with it too,’’ Dandenong coach and former Victorian batter Warren Ayres told CODE Sports.
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“He’s got a bright future. It was a breath of fresh air to see a young batsman play so nicely.’’
In November, Kellaway signed for the Melbourne Stars ahead of the upcoming Big Bash League, which gets underway on Tuesday.
The Cricket Australia XI was bowled out for 226 on day two of the tour match, giving South Africa a 121-run first-innings lead.
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