Table-toppers in front on day one of Sydney Grade Cricket match

The Panthers are in top spot on the Sydney Grade Cricket ladder after winning their first two matches and have continued their good form.

Pictured in action for Penrith is Shannon Finemore.

Penrith are in front in their round-three match against Randwick-Petersham after a dominant batting performance on Saturday.

The Panthers are in top spot on the Sydney Grade Cricket ladder after winning their first two matches and they continued their good form to post 9-369 on day one of the two-day match.

“We lost a couple of early wickets, which had us on the back foot, but a couple of the guys – (Giovanni) Di Bartolo and Shannon Finemore – took the game away from them pretty quickly,” captain Matthew Halse told the Penrith Press.

Pictured in action for Penrith is Shannon Finemore.

“We were 2-150 at lunch. A normal score at lunch is anywhere from 80 to 100, so we were going well.”

Opener Di Bartolo scored 66 runs from 69 balls and was well-backed up by Finemore, who scored 89.

“Shannon has started the year really well,” Halse said. “He worked really hard in the off-season and has started to string some good scores together.

Shannon Finemore plays a defensive shot.

“We managed to score at a really quick rate, which meant that we could set Randwick a high score.

“They’re a pretty good batting side and I was mindful of that, so we got a few more runs than we might against other sides.”

Penrith’s in-form bowlers Josh Lalor and Ryan Smith came out strong against Randwick, with Smith taking the first wicket to leave the visitors on 1-11 at the end of play on day one.

“That wicket was a bonus; it means there’s one less wicket to take next week,” Halse said.

“Our bowlers have been going well and it’s always someone else stepping up each week, which is good.”

Giovanni Di Bartolo was the opener for Penrith.

The match will resume on Saturday at Howell Oval, Penrith.

“I think the wicket will be pretty good to bat on again so we will be trying to get a few wickets early if we can,” Halse said.

In terms of the season so far, Penrith have been able to continue the form that carried them to the finals last season.

“We had such a good year last year, which was a little unexpected, and the danger was this year we might have a little hangover, so to speak,” Halse said.

“But the start has been great. We’re playing at the same level if not better than we were last year. It’s good to start well. Otherwise, you’re chasing your tail a bit the rest of the year.”