Fringe Test allrounder Moises Henriques gave selectors a forceful reminder of his game-changing ability with a brilliant century on day one of NSW’s Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia.
The 26-year-old was near flawless as he made a mockery of the Redbacks’ decision to send NSW in under clear skies, scoring 127 as the Blues finished the day 373 all out.
Henriques sent SA’s bowling to all areas of the SCG – including two monster sixes.
He has had a disrupted start to the Australian summer, which began when he missed the entire domestic one-day tournament while on duty with the national team in India.
Lacklustre efforts in two Shield clashes followed, before a groin injury forced him to miss last week’s win over Tasmania.
“Obviously the little setback with the injury was a little bit frustrating but you’ve just got be able to be flexible and make sure you take the opportunities when you can,” he said.
“…It was good to get out there and spend a bit of time in the middle.
“I would’ve like to have spent a bit more, but I don’t want to get greedy.”
A 187-run fourth-wicket partnership between Henriques and veteran Ben Rohrer (97) dragged the Blues from a tricky situation at lunch, when they were 3-84, to a healthy position by stumps.
Redbacks skipper Johan Botha took the first risk in the top-of-the-table match when he elected to field and appeared vindicated when his bowlers, led by Joe Mennie (4-60), knocked over NSW’s top three by lunch.
But Rohrer and Henriques went on the attack immediately after the break, taking on offspinner Botha (1-63) and Gary Putland (1-103) as both raced past 50.
Rohrer finished an agonising three runs shy of his first century of the summer, falling lbw by Kane Richardson (1-51).
Where he failed, Henriques thrived – blasting his way through the nervous 90s to secure just his second first-class century, and his first since September last year.
Henriques hammered 15 fours to go with his two sixes before Botha exacted some revenge by trapping him lbw, while Rohrer smashed 19 boundaries himself.
Captain Peter Nevill (42no) cashed in late to drive home the Blues’ day one advantage.
Earlier, Mennie dismissed Scott Henry (18) and Nic Maddinson (38) to give the visitors the upper hand after the first session.
He also grabbed the final two wickets, as NSW lost their last six wickets for 53, to finish the pick of the bowlers along with Chadd Sayers who knocked over Copeland and Steve O’Keefe (4) to finish with 3-82.
“We were staring down the barrel of 450 plus, really, so for us to come back and bowl them all out for 375 is really good from our point of view,” Mennie said.
