While the Centennial Bulls took the first innings win and a commanding 108 run lead into the second day of play, ORC will do their best to turn things around in their Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade match.
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The Tigers were bowled out for just 113 runs, before the Bulls raced away to 3-221.
Even though Tigers captain Trent Fitzpatrick missed the first day of action on February 18, he is expected to return this coming Saturday.
Fitzpatrick was aware of how his team went in his absence.
“From all reports, it was a pretty poor performance,” he said.
“I wasn’t there, but we’ve got to pick it up. We’ll have to bowl them out as quick as possible.”
Jeremy Judge was a rare highlight for the Tigers on a day were very little went their way, as he scored 65 runs.
Judge and Evan Jones (22) were the only batsmen to score double figures on the day, for the Tigers.
“[From what I’ve heard] Jeremy Judge apparently batted really well, but we threw away a lot of wickets. We didn’t do enough about our discrepancy,” Fitzpatrick said.
“Tim Allen, the Sellers brothers and myself were all out.
“I don’t think there’s a specific thing we need to work on [in terms of skill], but rather our mentality.”
Even though the Bulls have claimed the first innings win, the Tigers still have a chance to turn it around in the final round of competition.
The Tigers will play Rugby Union, while the Bulls will host St Pat’s Old Boys.
Currently sitting 1.51 points ahead of Bulls in fifth, the Tigers are just holding onto a finals position.
The first innings win may just be enough for the Bulls to leapfrog the Tigers into fourth place.
But Fitzpatrick is staying upbeat that the season is not over yet.
“Absolutely, we can turn it around. We’ll try and get the Saturday bonus points and then we’ll assess ourselves from there,” he said.
“It seems we’ve had more bad days then good, this season.”
If the Bulls do not declare before play begins, Andrew Brown (66) and Josh Kitchner (34) will resume their batting duties.
If the Tigers get an another chance with the bat, they will be mindful of bowler Michael Curtale.
The pace bowler took 4-26 off 10 overs on Saturday and also smashed 91 with the bat, in an outstanding, all round performance.
If ORC finish in the top four, it will be the first season since the 2013-14 where they have competed in the finals.
Play is set to recommence at 1.30pm on February 25, at the Bathurst Sportsground.
