Queensland’s Batting Masterclass: Renshaw Century, Khawaja & Labuschagne Silence Tasmania

In a commanding display of top-order dominance, Queensland’s batting trio turned the screws on Tasmania at the Gabba, leaving the visitors chasing shadows on a sun-baked Brisbane pitch. By stumps on Day Two of their Sheffield Shield clash, Queensland had roared to 248 for 1 in reply to Tasmania’s 379—all thanks to a trio of vintage performances from Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, and Marnus Labuschagne.

Renshaw Anchors With Unbeaten Century

Matt Renshaw, often spoken of as a Test hopeful on the comeback trail, delivered exactly what selectors wanted to see: composure, control, and class. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 114, his first Shield century of the season, mixing solid defence with elegant cover drives that had the sparse Gabba crowd murmuring in approval .

Khawaja and Labuschagne Build the Platform

Opening the innings, veteran Usman Khawaja set the tone with a fluent 69, looking every bit the domestic stalwart he is. His partnership with Renshaw—worth 152 runs—effectively neutralized Tasmania’s bowling attack before he fell just short of a ton.

At the other end, Australia’s No. 3 in Tests, Marnus Labuschagne, walked in and looked utterly unflustered. Still not out on 54 by stumps, Labuschagne’s presence ensured Queensland not only matched Tasmania’s first-innings effort but began building a lead that could prove decisive in this four-day contest .

Why This Innings Matters

This wasn’t just about runs—it was a statement. With the Australian Test summer looming and selection debates heating up, all three batters used this match as a live audition:

• Renshaw reinforced his credentials as a reliable opener.
• Khawaja, despite his international status, showed he’s still hungry at the domestic level.
• Labuschagne maintained his red-ball rhythm ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Scorecard Snapshot: Queensland vs Tasmania

Team	1st Innings	2nd Innings (Stumps, Day 2)
Tasmania	379 all out	—
Queensland	—	248/1 (Renshaw 114*, Labuschagne 54*)

With a lead already building and two set batters at the crease, Queensland are in the driver’s seat. Unless Tasmania’s bowlers produce a dramatic turnaround on Day Three, the home side looks poised to take full control of this Shield fixture.

Sources

• ESPNcricinfo: Renshaw, Khawaja, Labuschagne pile up runs against Tasmania
• Cricket Australia: Sheffield Shield Match Centre