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Usman Khawaja delivered when Australia needed him the most on Day 2 of the Ashes 2023 series opener against England at Edgbaston. Khawaja smoked a scintillating century to rescue Australia from a precarious position to a commanding 311/5 till the end of Day 2's play.
After losing David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith early, Khawaja pummelled an unbeaten 126 off 279 to steady Australia's boat from a perilous 220/5. He notched his 15th Test century which was apparently his first ton on English soil. The 36-year-old also shattered 139-year-old record as it was the first instance in these many years that a non Australia born opener scored a century in away Ashes match. Notably, back in 1884 Kennington, London-born Australian batter Percy McDonnell scored century in the Kennington Oval. The Islamabad, Pakistan-born Khawaja brought up his century on the 199th ball.
But what caught everyone's eyes was Khawaja's wild celebration which he unleashed after completing his century. As soon as Khawaja hit the ball for a four to reach his century, he let out a huge roar before throwing his bat in the air.
A day later the star Australian batter revealed the reason behind his emotional celebration post notching his century on Saturday.
“I think it was a culmination of three Ashes tours to England, and being dropped on two of them,” Khawaja said of his emotional celebration.
“I don’t read the media, but when I’m getting sprayed in the nets and getting sprayed when I’m walking out there that I can’t bat in England, I guess it was just a bit more emotional than normal,” he added.
Watch the video here…
Khawaja continued his run spree on Day 3 and was well on course of notching the 150-run mark. But Ollie Robinson finally got the most prized wicket of Khawaja in the 113th over as the star batter departed after a run marathon of 141 off 321. As of 113 overs, Australia have mustered 372 for the loss of seven wickets with Pat Cummins unscathed at 29 off 54.
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