Josh Philippe's career-best 129 gives Western Australia upper hand

Josh Philippe proved his red-ball credentials with a superb century in difficult batting conditions at the Gabba to put Western Australia in a strong position against Queensland on a rain-affected second day of the Sheffield Shield clash.

Philippe made his second Sheffield Shield century, and his second domestic century of the summer, scoring 129 out of WA's first-innings total of 281. He shared 101-run stand with Cameron Green, who made 53, while Jhye Richardson was the only other WA batter to pass 15, before rain ended the day's play with heavy deluge sweeping over the ground just before tea.

Queensland were a bowler short with Michael Neser unable to take the field after suffering a low-grade hamstring injury on day one, but he remains hopeful of being in Ashes contention. Mark Steketee continued to press his case to be in the extended Ashes squad claiming 4 for 74 including the wickets of Philippe and Green.

Philippe's off-season technical work, following difficult limited-overs tours with Australia to the Caribbean and Bangladesh, bore fruit during his 222-ball innings to produce his highest first-class score. He played with soft hands, excellent balance and great control against the moving ball. He struck 14 fours and three sixes and brought up his century with a glorious back-foot punch through mid-off. His innings stood out on a surface where only Test players Usman Khawaja and Green had looked remotely comfortable. He eventually fell to Steketee off a leading edge.

Green continued his love affair with the Gabba. He has scores of 251, 121 not out, 87 not out and 53 in seven first-class innings at the ground. He was as shocked as anyone to not make it a third century when he was undone by an excellent piece of bowling from Steketee in the opening hour. Steketee went wide of the crease and angled into middle stump, luring Green into a drive only for the ball to shape away late and catch a thick outside edge, which was well held at slip by Joe Burns.

Richardson played a useful hand late in the innings striking eight boundaries in his 35. Shaun Marsh, who suffered a bad calf strain on day one, came out to bat with a runner at the fall of the ninth wicket and stayed unbeaten on 10.

WA was only able to bowl 4.2 overs at Queensland before the rain fell, with Joel Paris unable to bowl because of a minor hamstring injury that he also sustained on day one.