Photo: Twitter/ @CricketNSWBlues

Australia’s Moises Henriques ran the show on Friday at the Bankstown Oval in Sydney, scoring a resounding century to put his side in firm control in the 2020-21 Sheffield Shield. Playing just his second game of the tournament, the New South Wales all-rounder took little time adjusting back to First Class cricket, scoring 141 against a star-studded Victoria bowling line-up to give his team the edge.

Having won the toss, New South Wales opted to take the field first, and their bowlers did a stellar job to restrict Victoria to 190 all out in the first innings. In reply, NSW were in a spot of bother at 54/4 with Moises having recently arrived at the crease. The Aussie all-rounder however managed to turn the tables, stitching together a mammoth partnership of 219 run partnership with captain Peter Nevill.

Despite facing a host of experienced, International bowlers like James Pattinson, Scott Boland and Jon Holland, the 34-year-old Moises expertly weathered the storm to put the pressure back on the opposition. The Aussie all-rounder scored 17 fours and three sixes in his innings, getting to his 13th First Class ton in the process. Henriques, who will play for Punjab Kings in the 2021 IPL, maintained an impressive strike rate of nearly 70, punishing the bad balls to keep the pressure on the opposition as the game progressed.

He was ultimately dismissed by Bolland, who knocked him over with a good delivery towards the close of play. Nevertheless, the damage had been done as Moises managed to score 141 on a challenging track to give New South Wales a commanding lead over Victoria. NSW ended Day 2 at 304/7, leading Victoria by 114 runs, giving Peter Nevill’s side a good chance at victory with a significant portion of the match still to be played.

Switching between formats

Less than a month ago, Moises captained the Sydney Sixers to their third Big Bash League title. He was instrumental in their success with his cameos in the middle-order and captaincy acumen. Now playing the Sheffield Shield, Moises seems to have aclamatised to the longer format with ease, getting a fifty on his maiden First Class game of the 2020-21 season. He has now gone one better with a ton in the next one, showing signs of his imperious form just at the right time ahead of the 2021 VIVO Indian Premier League.