Konstas, Smith fall cheaply in NSW first innings

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Konstas, Smith fall cheaply in NSW first innings

Young **** Sam Konstas has blown a chance to push his Test selection claims, further complicating the call on who opens for Australia.

Star NSW teammate Steve Smith also went cheaply in the morning session on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG as the Victorian ******* hit back hard on Monday.

After the home side was dismissed for 272, NSW were teetering after lunch on 5-83.

Opener Konstas has been seen as a potential bolter for the first Test against India after his twin Shield centuries against SA.

He was also named in the Australia A team to play India A.

But hunting in his favourite MCG habitat, Scott Boland trapped Konstas lbw for four.

While Konstas gestured that the ball was shaping down the leg side, the umpire disagreed.

He is the latest top-order candidate who’s ******* to push his case over the last couple of days to replace injured all-rounder Cameron Green in the *********** Test lineup.

Victorian Marcus Harris, Tasmanian Beau Webster and South *********** captain Nathan McSweeney all ******* to post decent scores on Sunday.

Boland, who will push for Test selection again this summer, was unlucky not to trap the other opener Nic Maddinson lbw.

But Maddinson only made 19 before he was the second wicket to fall, caught by Peter Handscomb at second slip off Will Sutherland.

Smith has been opening the batting for Australia, but he is set to drop back down the order in the upcoming Test series.

Coming in at No.3 on Monday, he crept to three from 29 ****** before going in the next over after Maddinson, caught behind off opening bowler Fergus O’Neill.

Moises Henriques then fell in the same way, off the same bowler, for the same score to leave NSW in big trouble at lunch on 4-43.

Oliver Davies and Josh Philippe tried to mount a rescue mission in the middle session.

But Davies mistimed a pull shot and was caught at deep backward square leg by Campbell Kellaway for 37.

Philippe had made 17, Sean Abbott was the new batsman and NSW were staring at a first-innings deficit on 5-83.

Victoria had resumed at 9-259 and Abbott, like Boland a Test ******* hopeful, claimed the last wicket to finish with 5-62.

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