Sydney University opener Scott Henry was 22 not out and looking ominous at stumps at Waverley Oval on Saturday after the first day of the 2012-13 Sydney Grade cricket competition.
The Sports Scholarship holder is hoping for another run-laden season to secure his place at the top of the NSW batting order and help Sydney University defend the Belvidere Cup they won for the First Grade competition last season.
Henry cracked 132 in the 2011-12 final win over Randwick-Petersham, which prompted selectors to name him in the opening NSW fixtures, against Western Australian at the WACA, last week.
He held the NSW batting together with 66 in the limited overs win over WA, and backed that up with 39 and 13 in the outright Sheffield Shield win before returning to club cricket at the weekend.
Sydney University were 0-29 at stumps after the first day of the two-day fixture in reply to Eastern Suburbs 191.
Having won the toss and batted on their home track, which now features a new multi-million dollar grandstand, Waverley were in trouble from the outset, losing opener Justin Waller, lbw to Greg Mail for seven, and No.2 Adam Ezekeil, lbw to Tim Ley for four.
But opener Matthew Yiend (58) and Jarryd Blake (37) put on a 67-run partnership to right the ship and Rob Watts topscored with 64 not out to help compile a competitive total.
Will Somerville was the best the University leather-slingers, finishing with 4-44, while Ley ended with 2-26.
Sydney University had two century-makers in the opening round of the lower grade competitions. Alex Mihalyka cracked 124 in Fourth Grade’s 8-342 at stumps at St Paul’s College Oval, while Charles Arcus notched 105 in Fifth Grade’s 6(dec)-348 at St Andrew’s College Oval. The Fifths had Eastern Suburbs 1-9 at stumps.
Second Grade are well poised to push for first innings points at Sydney University No.2 Oval. The hosts racked up 293 on the back of the contributions of Josh Toyer (76), Adam Theobald (62) and Liam Robertson (49) and had Easts wobbling at 3-24 at stumps, thanks to Ben Joy’s 3-13.
Third Grade are in a dog fight at windy Snape Park and will need to bowl and field well to collect points. Brendan Pryke (62) and Jack Hill (43) scored the bulk of Third’s 165. Eastern Suburbs were 1-28 at stumps.
In Metropolitan Cup action at Balmoral Oval, Jay Blamey (82 not out), Stuart Hastings (74), Edward Turner (42) and Timothy Croft (42) scored the bulk of Sydney University 6(dec)-341. Mosman were 1-41 at stumps.
Scoreboard
Sydney Grade competition – Round 1 (Two-day matches)
First Grade: Eastern Suburbs 191 (Rob Watts 64 not out, Matthew Yiend 58, Jarryd Blake 37; Will Somerville 4-44, Tim Ley 2-26) v Sydney University 0-29 (Scott Henry 22 not out), stumps, day one, at Waverley Oval. Toss: Eastern Suburbs. Batted first: Eastern Suburbs.
Second Grade: Sydney University 293 (Josh Toyer 76, Adam Theobald 62, Liam Robertson 49, Ed Arnott 26; Jameson Coutts 5-55, Angus Palmer 2 65) v Eastern Suburbs 3-24 (Ben Joy 3-13), stumps, day one, at Sydney University No.2 Oval. Toss: Eastern Suburbs. Batted first: Sydney University.
Third Grade: Sydney University 165 (Brendan Pryke 62, Jack Hill 43; Timothy Brown 3-56, Harry Brooks 2-19, Samuel Powell 2-28) v Eastern Suburbs 1-28, stumps, day one at Snape Park. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fourth Grade: Sydney University 8-342 (Alex Mihalyka 124, Matt Skinner 70, Stuart McLean 42; Naveen Chowdhury 3-44), stumps, day one at St Paul’s College Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
Fifth Grade: Sydney University 6(dec)-348 (Charles Arcus 105, Harrison Watt 79, Jarrad Waterlow 60 not out, Sam Mahabady 39, Andrew Deveraj 37; George Black 2-14) v Eastern Suburbs 1-9, stumps, day one at St Andrew’s College, Oval.
Metropolitan Cup
Sydney University 6(dec)-341 (Jay Blamey 82 not out, Stuart Hastings 74, Edward Turner 42, Timothy Croft 42) v Mosman 1-41, stumps, day one at Balmoral Oval. Toss: Sydney University. Batted first: Sydney University.
