At 9-113, ORC were in trouble of being bowled out for a disappointing score in its Bathurst District Cricket Association first grade match against City Colts on Saturday.
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Played at Loco Oval, David Hitchick watched as Angus Daymond came in at number 11 to partner with him.
A last ditch effort was required to save ORC’s blushes and Hitchick delivered when he hit 122 with the bat, to post an overall score of 242 for ORC.
It was just Hitchick’s second career century, after scoring 125 against Colts in December, 2016, in just his second first grade match of the 2017-18 season.
ORC skipper Wayne Sellers praised the mammoth batting effort from Hitchick.
“Him and the last batsmen had a 130 run partnership. It was pretty special from Dave,” he said.
“242 is great. Halfway through the runs and the wickets, we looked half a chance.
“It was pretty disappointing to be in that situation at the ninth wicket but we were pretty lucky at the end. The same thing happened last year. Same field, same team, same bloke.”
Sellers said the wicket was hard to bat on.
“I think going hard was the way to do it,” he said.
“That’s how Dave scored all his runs.”
Sellers is confident that ORC can bowl Colts out, who are currently 5-123 and have Matt Stephen (21 runs) and Campbell Morris (four runs) still in.
“I think [we can bowl them all out]. If the pitch is anything like it is on Saturday, we’ll be a good chance,” he said.
Dave Sellers (37 runs) and Trent Fitzpatrick (nine runs) opened the batting for ORC.
David Henderson and Jacob Bognuda both took four wickets each, with David Rogerson taking the other two for ORC.
ORC, who are fifth, need a win to keep in touching distance with the top four while second-placed Colts require a win to keep up its minor premiership hopes.
However, ORC posted a similar score – 239 – in a two-day game against Bathurst City in the last round before Christmas and were chased down.
Play recommences on January 20, at 1.30pm.
