When Hitchick strolled out to middle of Loco Oval with his side at 5-194 the innings could have gone in either direction for the Tigers.

With some hard hitting he made sure it headed upwards.

Hitchick sent Colts chasing the ball throughout much of the afternoon as a wide array of shots took him to a total of 125, and ensured that the day belonged to ORC.

First drop batsman Dave Glasson came up just short of joining his team mate in the centurion’s club with a strong knock of 78.

Hitchick applied his natural game from in the opening stages of his innings and punished Colts after dropping him early on.

“I really only have one speed when I bat, more of a Twenty20 player,” he said.

“The guys who started us off did a really good job. They faced a lot of balls. When Dave [Glasson] and the other boys ahead of me had done their job … I was facing a much more tired bowling attack.

“I got off to a shaky start. I didn’t get one out of the middle for my first 15 to 20 balls … but I eventually managed to hit one through the covers that raced away and that point on everything seemed to work for me.”

The century was an impressive effort from the middle order batsman who had only played two matches previously this season, for scores of 36 and 5.

“I only played the two matches earlier this season so it had been a while for me,” Hitchick said.

“I managed to have a partnership of 82 runs with our number 10 batsman [Dallas Booth], who got around three of them.”

ORC captain Trent Fitzpatrick (15) made a steady start with the bat while fellow opener Dave Sellers (17) had a short but explosive stint with the willow.

Glasson received good support from both Wayne Sellers (17) and Brad Glasson (25) in his 43 overs at the crease.

The time Dave Glasson and Hitchick spent out in the middle together was brief – just five runs – but when one departed the other continued to give the Colts bowlers hell.

Hitchick finished with six sixes and 15 fours in his destructive performance.

He was eventually caught off the bowling of Colts captain Dan Casey, who finished with figures of 2-57.

Henry Allen had the best figures of 2-43 with Henry Shoemark taking 2-48 and Shane Conroy 2-57.

Matt Stephen was kept busy with the ball as he bowled 22 overs to finish on 1-75.

Hitchick said his side need to keep up the positive intent when they go out to field for the second day of action.

“It’s a good score but it’s probably a 240 everywhere else and Colts have a very good batting side,” he said.

“We’ll have to be bowling at our best on Saturday.”