Usman Khawaja's classy unbeaten hundred secures Queensland's big chase

Usman Khawaja made a superb century to guide Queensland to a three-wicket victory against Tasmania as they chased down 310 on the final day in Hobart.

The major partnership came with Marnus Labuschagne (78) as the pair added 137 for the third wicket. Though Tasmania chipped away at the middle order, a rapid 30 from Jack Wildermuth helped take Queensland to the brink before two wickets in two balls from Nathan Ellis provided some late drama.

Khawaja's was a faultless display as he brought up his 30th first-class hundred, and second of the season, from 181 deliveries after he had come to the crease following a good start to the day by the home side with Jackson Bird removing both openers in the first half an hour.

It was the quality of innings that provides further debate after Khawaja could not find a place among the 37 players selected in the two recent Australia squads (the postponed South Africa tour and the New Zealand T20Is) although he was subsequently put on standby for the Test group having not played since being dropped midway through the 2019 Ashes.

Queensland needed 272 more runs at the start of the day and that looked a considerable distance away when Bryce Street shouldered arms at Bird in the first over then Joe Burns, who made a brilliant 171 in the first innings, was given caught behind although looked far from impressed with the decision.

Labuschagne, for the second time in the match, also thought he copped a rough decision from the umpire when he was given caught behind off Beau Webster to a delivery that nipped back between bat and pad having taken Queensland a large part of the way towards the target alongside Khawaja.

Matt Renshaw helped Khawaja take a further 54 off the requirement before edging Webster, this time with the new ball, to Tim Paine who had been a convinced a short while earlier that the left hander had nicked down the leg side.

When Jimmy Peirson edged Gabe Bell behind Queensland still needed 51, but Wildermuth struck the ball cleanly and when he hit Ellis for a six the visitors needed just 13. However, in an attempt to finish the match quickly he missed a heave next ball then Mark Steketee dragged on but Khawaja remained to finish the job. The victory keeps Queensland top of the table.