NORTHS' Andrew Barnett ripped through the ANU batting line-up yesterday, picking up seven wickets on the first day of the two-day first grade match.
Barnett dismissed all of ANU's top six batsmen to put his team in a strong position as the university side was all out for 139, but Norths could not capitalise on his efforts, ending the day's play on a precarious 5-44.
The start of play was delayed for two hours because of heavy overnight rain. On a wet and grassy wicket at ANU North, Norths won the toss and sent the host in to try to exploit the favourable bowling conditions.
''We bowled really well, we had plans in place and executed those really well and just kept the pressure up the whole time and the wickets eventually fell,'' Norths captain Sam Gaskin said.
''[Barnett] got a lot of edges and bowled very well,'' Gaskin said of his main strike weapon.
''He is a great bowler every week and it just happened that he could get the nice outswing and draw the batters into the drives.''
Friday Kasteni was the only ANU batsman to offer any real resistance, with the middle order batsman making 42 runs before being trapped lbw by Barnett.
''Obviously 139 is not a big score but on that wicket I thought it would be competitive if we took some early wickets and we did,'' ANU captain Mark Bennett said.
''I think next week will be an interesting first couple of hours and it will determine the result.''
Gaskin was disappointed in his side's batting effort but said he was still confident it could perform strongly with opener Richard Walker unbeaten on 27.
Elliot Borren was the best of ANU's bowlers, picking up three wickets including Gaskin's.
In other games, Eastlake was 3-191 on day one against Wests. Matthew Gawthrop was the chief runmaker for Eastlake, unbeaten on 86 with captain Adam Tett still at the crease on 13.
Tuggeranong's bowlers sliced through Ginninderra's batting line-up for 95 with Shane Devoy (3-12), Steven Hammond (3-15) and Michael Wescombe (3-15) sharing the spoils for Tuggeranong.
In response, Tuggeranong finished the day at 1-64 with with Eric Witheridge (38 not out) and Michael Barrington (24no).
No play was possible between Queanbeyan and Weston Creek due to overnight rain.
The two-day competition continues on Saturday.
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