Sydney University left-hander Ed Cowan continued his exceptional Sheffield Shield form at the SCG today, hitting his third century in first-class cricket this season.
With New South Wales chasing South Australia's 229 under gloomy skies in Sydney, Cowan joined Nic Maddinson in the 13th over of the innings after Dan Hughes was dismissed for 26. Cowan and Maddinson added 44 in the next ten overs before Maddinson edged a delivery from Dan Worrall through the wicket-keeper Alex Carey. Cowan timed the ball beautifully from the start, driving cleanly and pulling ferociously whenever Worrall or Kane Richardson tested out the middle of the pitch. At drinks in the second session, he was unbeaten on 60 from 83 balls, including nine boundaries. New South Wales then needed only another 61 runs for a first innings lead.
After drinks, Cowan passed 700 first-class runs for the season and, on 72, he reached 9500 runs in his first-class career. He registered his 25th first-class century just after 5pm, when he pulled a short delivery from Daniel Worrall to the midwicket fence, bringing up his hundred from 165 deliveries. When the new ball was taken, he pulled Chadd Sayers for four and six from successive balls, and when rain ended play for the day, he remained unbeaten on 125. New South Wales leads by 104 runs with six wickets still in hand.