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NSW debutant Daniel Solway has made a century against South Australia on the opening day of the Sheffield Shield game in Adelaide.
NSW batsman Daniel Solway has scored a stylish unbeaten century on Sheffield Shield debut against South Australia in Adelaide.
Solway's 129 not out defied a Redbacks attack, headlined by Chadd Sayers' six wickets, as the Blues posted 7-274 on Friday's opening day.
Sayers, displaying masterly ball movement after SA won the toss in overcast conditions, collected his 15th five-wicket innings haul in first-class cricket.
The paceman took 6-55 from 23 overs, claiming the initial four wickets for SA, who axed out-of-sorts batsman Jake Lehmann.
But Sayers, in his second Shield game after overcoming a back injury, was resisted by the 24-year-old Solway.
"I was just stoked when I got my cap; I didn't think the day would come; I was just chuffed," he said.
"And then to walk off at the end of the day, I was pretty happy."
Solway has dominated NSW second XI and club cricket, amassing more than 3300 runs in the past two summers.
"I played a lot of second XI cricket and played against a few of the (SA) bowlers," he said.
"From that, you have a bit of confidence in your ability. It made me a bit calmer, having played a lot of those guys.
"It was just a matter of applying the same thing at the level above."
The 24-year-old, summoned to a NSW outfit missing Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott, featured in two telling partnerships.
Sayers struck twice early, uprooting the middle stump of Daniel Hughes for a duck and bowling Nick Larkin (16) with an expert off-cutter.
First-drop Solway rallied in a 61-run stand with Moises Henriques, who made 30 but fell just after lunch to another Sayers indipper, trapped lbw.
Sayers added the Blues' other debutant, Matt Gilkes, caught behind for a duck, and Wes Agar picked up Nick Bertus (one) to leave NSW wobbling at 5-107.
Solway combined with veteran Peter Nevill (53) for a valuable 108-run partnership, with the first-gamer racing a quick single to leg to reach his century from 229 balls.
