Tasmanian opener Caleb Jewell top scores for Australia A ahead of Tigers season

Tasmanian Caleb Jewell continues to stake his claims for national selection with a century for Australia A. See the details.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 04: Caleb Jewell, pictured after scoring his last first-class century for Tasmania, scored 131 for Australia A last week. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Fresh off topscoring for Australia A last week, Tasmanian opener Caleb Jewell will look to continue that strong form in Wednesday’s one-day clash against New Zealand A.

The Tigers and Hurricanes star put together his best performance to date since receiving a call-up to the national-second team with a 131 run second innings stand during the four-day match that ended last Thursday.

Jewell top scored for Australia with a 131-run second innings stand. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Jewell batted for the entire innings, knocking 17 fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 77.51, before falling in the 57th over.

The Kiwis would end up winning by 68 runs and while disappointed to not get the result, Jewell was relived to notch up his fifth first-class hundred.

“It was a bit of a relief to be honest,” Jewell said.

“I’ve been stuck on four (centuries) for a while and had a few 90-run stands in-between so it was nice to tick that one off.”

Despite also top scoring in the first four-day match earlier this month – 78 off 95 – a modest Jewell stopped short of agreeing he was ready to take the next step but was happy to be performing well ahead of the Tigers first domestic game of the season on September 25 against Victoria.

“(Is it career best form), yes and no,” he said.

Caleb Jewell won the 2022-23 Ricky Ponting Medal. Picture: Cricket Tasmania.

“It’s first class cricket. I don’t think it matters if it’s here (with Australia A) or back with Tasmania so I’m not too sure.

“It’s just nice to play a few games before the domestic season and do well. You can sometimes feel a little bit of unknown heading into the season so it’s nice to be able to play some cricket before.”

Jewell, who was added to Australia A’s one-day squad prior to the opening game, opened the batting on Sunday and scored 29 off 35.

The Aussies went onto win by five wickets with Wednesday’s second match beginning at 1:20pm from Allan Border Field in Brisbane and the third and final game in the series on Friday.