Penrith on top of North Sydney

John Di Bartolo returned to form to help Penrith first grade set up a possible first innings win against North Sydney at Howell Oval.

Penrith’s John Di Bartolo sweeps against North Sydney at Howell Oval on Sunday. Picture: Carmela Roche

• Basketball star backs her sport
• Merrin forced to choose country or brother
• Cummins Test blow has silver lining

John Di Bartolo returned to form to help Penrith first grade set up a possible first innings win against North Sydney at Howell Oval.

The opening batsman was out lbw for 6 and 0 in the first two games of the season before belting 119 off just 113 balls on the weekend as Penrith scored 362 on Saturday.

Penrith’s Jonathon Sammut

Di Bartolo said he had to pull back his game a bit after trying to be too aggressive in the opening rounds.

“I was a bit too expansive in the first two one-day games so I tried to play each ball on its merits on Saturday instead of trying to hit them out of the park,” he said.

Di Bartolo gave one chance when on 70 when dropped off a tough catch at third man.

He said he didn’t go into the game lacking confidence despite the lean start to 2016/17.

Penrith batsman Jonathon Sammut on his way to 123.

“It’s my sixth season in first grade so I know if you work hard that a big score is just around the corner,” he said.

The highlight of the day was Di Bartolo’s 142-run stand with Jonathon Sammut, who hit 13 fours and three sixes on his way to 123.

Penrith’s John Di Bartolo his his first ton of the season.

Di Bartolo said it was fun watching his partner go about his business.

“It’s different [batting with him], I’ll say that,” Di Bartolo said.

“He hits them in a lot of different areas. He creates where he needs to hit it. He’ll all of a sudden come down the pitch and belt a ball over mid-wicket.”

North Sydney will resume at 1/10 after Josh Lalor snared the wicket of Glenn Aitken late in the day.

Day two of the match starts at 10.30am.