New South Wales 137 for 1 (Konstas 80*) trail Western Australia 211 (Inglis 41, Edwards 5-41, Bird 3-48) by 74 runs
After rain washed out the opening five hours of day two at the SCG, NSW were asked to contend with an 80-minute period before stumps on Saturday.
Otherwise NSW got through unscathed, with Konstas 80 not out and the Blues moving closer to Western Australia’s first-innings total of 211.
After Konstas rocketed to 55 by stumps on Friday, he was far more circumspect in Saturday’s shortened period.
The opener squeezed out two boundaries behind point in one over against Gannon, and used his feet to hit Corey Rocchiccoli back down the ground for four.
He offered one half-chance late, sweeping Rocchiccoli in the air to deep square leg, only for a tough diving chance to be put down by Brody Couch.
Tanveer Sangha also navigated through 28 balls, after being sent in as a nightwatchman at No.3 following the fall of Nikitaras.
Konstas’ runs continued a serious purple patch for the opener, who scored 107 against a Test-quality Indian attack for the Prime Minister’s XI last week in Canberra.
He also began the summer with twin Shield tons against South Australia, shooting him into the conversation for a Test debut.
The 19-year-old has made no secret of the fact he feels ready for the game’s toughest level, keen to challenge himself as soon as this summer.
A century on Sunday will only strengthen his case, with he or Josh Inglis likely to be next in line if Australia make changes to their top order.
Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster is also in Australia’s squad after three sparkling years with the bat in the Shield, but his chance is more likely to come if a vacancy opens up at No.6.
Konstas’s runs have also come at a good time, with this the last round of the Sheffield Shield before the BBL break.
It means he and other hopefuls will not play another Shield game until February, by which time Australia’s Test side will be in Sri Lanka for a two-match series.
