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Bancroft makes timely ton for Durham

Western Australian compiles a brilliant 158 in UK County Championship, while Labuschagne continues strong form with the bat

Cameron Bancroft has given Australian selectors a timely reminder of his skills with a brilliant 158 for Durham in the English County Championship.

Bancroft, who with David Warner and Steve Smith served long suspensions following the Cape Town ball-tampering fiasco, was left out of the 14-man Australia A squad chosen to acclimatise in England ahead of the Ashes, with selectors stating his county form would be closely monitored.


The West Australian was also involved in a record-breaking 281-run sixth-wicket partnership on Tuesday with Ned Eckersley, who made 118, against Sussex at Hove.

Resuming on 5-259 on the second morning, skipper Bancroft went down the pitch and drove Luke Wells for four shortly before lunch to take the partnership to 281.

Two balls later, the partnership record was broken, with Wells snaring a sharp return catch to dismiss Eckersley.

Bancroft was out lbw in the next over, attempting to sweep.

Sussex closed on 9-231, trailing Durham by 153.

Like Bancroft, Marnus Labuschagne is also playing county cricket in the UK and was left out of the A squad as selectors look to broaden the pool with the Ashes in mind.

Queenslander Labuschagne added just nine runs to his overnight 56 before he was dismissed for Glamorgan against Gloucestershire under lights in their Division Two match in Bristol.

David Payne, Josh Shaw and Ryan Higgins ended with three wickets each as the visitors were bowled out for 287 from an overnight 4-187 - a first-innings deficit of 26.

Labuschagne's 65 took his tally of Championship runs for the season to 769 at an average of 64.