Katich ton inspires Randy Petes

An unbeaten 110 by Simon Katich helped Randwick Petersham overcome last season's minor premier Manly-Warringah. In a rare Grade appearance, Michael Bevan scored just 5 as Manly-Warringah was restricted to 7-232. The Seasiders were ruing a missed opportunity after letting Katich off before scoring, before the talented Speedblitz Blues star easily blunted Manly's impressive bowling attack. The Randy Petes passed the Seasider's score only two wickets down, with six overs to spare.

At Bankstown Oval, a youthful Western Suburbs overcame a star-studded Bankstown, which included Test greats Steve and Mark Waugh. The Magpies were brilliant in the field restricting the Bulldogs to just 167 with Mark Waugh (10) and brother Steve (8) disappointing the large local crowd. After Mark Waugh dismissed Michael Clarke for 13, Stephen Phillips (48) steadied the Magpies as they crept past Bankstown's total with five wickets to spare.

At Rawson Oval, Brett Lee claimed 2-30 to help Mosman restrict Gordon to 197. Former Western Warriors and Australian Test bowler Matthew Nicholson was welcomed back to home club Gordon claiming 3-33, but was unable to halt Mosman surpassing his team's total only five wickets down.

Last season's finalists, Sydney University and Penrith, suffered first-round defeats at the hands of UTS-Balmain and Eastern Suburbs. NSW Speedblitz Blues batsman Matthew Phelps failed to score a run for his new club Sydney University and watched his team post 5-237 against a Tigers bowling line-up spear-headed by Nathan Bracken. UTS-Balmain passed the total seven wickets down as Bracken brought up the winning runs with two balls to spare. Speedblitz Blues opener Greg Mail (110) top-scored for the Tigers.

A strengthened Eastern Suburbs side boasting NSW keeper Brad Haddin and the return of ex-NSW leg-spinner Adrian Tucker humbled Penrith. Tucker (3-15) bamboozled the Panthers batsman with deceptive deliveries that earmarked a possible return to First Class Cricket for the ageless 34 year old. The Panthers could muster only 179 on a flat Howell Oval and were easily overcome by the Dolphins with five wickets to spare.

Two-time O'Reilly Medallist Grant Lambert proved he is the competition's most devastating all-rounder blasting 139 and taking 2-28 as Fairfield-Liverpool (8-256) easily overcame Northern Districts (194), in which NSW all-rounder Dominic Thornely managed 91 and 3-48 for Districts.

In other matches- Hawkesbury 7-169 def North Sydney 168 at Owen Earle; Campbelltown-Camden 5-180 def Blacktown 179 at Raby; Sutherland 3-116 def St George 114 at Hurstville; and Parramatta 8-219 def University of NSW 160 at Village Green