David Warner has hit an unbeaten century and Steve Smith scored 85 as Australian cricket's banned former leaders prospered on day one of the Sydney grade season.
Former captain Smith also took 1-29 off five overs and two catches for Sutherland on Saturday in his first cricket match in Australia since being banned for his involvement in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.
Former vice-captain David Warner, who was also slapped with a year-long ban for his involvement in the incident, scored 155 not out off 152 balls for Randwick-Petersham.
The presence of Australia's two most prolific Test batsmen generated big crowds at both venues.
About 1000 turned up at Glenn McGrath Oval, including the legendary former quick the ground is named after.
Several hundred were present at Coogee Oval, where canteen sales were so brisk that club officials had to bring in more beer.
Warner struck 13 fours and a couple of sixes in a perfectly paced innings as his team reached their target of 278 off the final ball.
He faced an attack including two Test bowlers in Josh Hazlewood and Trent Copeland, with the former taking 1-30 off eight overs in his first game after a back injury.
"(Warner) played really well. He's very good in those situations ... a pretty special knock," said Hazlewood, who expects to return to NSW duty in the one-day cup on October 1.
Asked if he exchanged any banter with Warner, Hazlewood said "it was pretty quiet. He was just going about his business and knuckled right down and got the result, which is what he was after."
Like Smith, Warner won't be eligible to play international cricket again until early next year.
"He's obviously a very good player. It''s about putting in place a culture that can fit him back in and hopefully he plays his best cricket when he does come back," Hazlewood said.
"It's still a long way away. He's got some batters in there that he has to push out that are doing well so we'll see when the time comes."
Smith was dropped early in his 92-ball innings but tallied six fours and a six. Like Warner, he top-scored for his club.
"He batted nicely. You could see he was very much in the zone," said Smith's former international teammate Shane Watson.
"He was always going to come out and do well. He's obviously got plenty of desire inside him.""
Smith and Warner, who didn't speak to the media after their matches, were greeted with warm applause when going out to bat.
"The support that he has got today will just reassure (Smith) that everything is OK," said Watson, who couldn't play alongside Smith due to injury.
"People do make mistakes and then people do forgive and certainly forgive very quickly."
Australian Associated Press
