Mark Day hits 93, as Bathurst City beat St Pat's Old Boys by 18 runs

And it was Mark Day who was the best performing batsman in the Redbacks order, the number three hitting 93 runs before his was caught out by St Pat’s bowler Matt Fearnley at the Bathurst Sportsground. 

Redbacks finished with a score of 5-267 after 40 overs, before St Pat’s came short with 6-249.

Day’s total of 93 runs was a personal best for him in first grade, beating his previous record of 86 runs he scored against Rugby Union on November 11, 2017.

“I started alright, just kept fighting out there on the field. I just kept thinking that if I stay out here longer, it’s going to get easier,” he said.

“I cashed in towards the end. It’s 93 more runs for the team, if I had got out early on.”

Joey Coughlan and Ben Orme opened the batting for the Redbacks and both collected handy scores in 31 and 61 respectively. 

Coughlan fell at 1-61, with Day coming in as the number three batsman. 

Ollie Simpson came in when Orme fell, the youngster picking up nine runs, his first ever score in first grade.

Aditya Adey proved handy with the bat again, the Northern Irish import following up his 73 runs, in the opening round win over City Colts, with 42 from number five.

Cohen Schubert and Mick Tobin where the last two men standing when the 40 over mark came, sitting on 13 and nine runs respectively. 

St Pat’s started the chase well, opening batsmen Nic Broes and Tanvir Singh hitting 40 and 42 runs respectively.

Singh fell with St Pat’s at 2-131 after 24 overs, but in the same over Thomas Geyer, who was on 35 runs, was also dismissed, run out by an Adey.

St Pat’s lost four more wickets in the last over, their total of 6-249 not good enough to catch Redbacks.

Adey was the best bowler for Redbacks, taking 3-71 off eight overs. 

Mitch Taylor, for St Pat’s, was the only one in his team to take more than one wicket, snagging two. 

It now means last season’s grand finalist have started the opening two rounds of the new season with no wins.

Redbacks on the other hand are positioned well, having won their opening two games.

Day said the squad’s attitude in the opening two rounds has been great.

“We kind of flew under the radar in the off-season. We may have surprised a few people with our results, but we’re pretty happy with how we’re sitting.

“Everyone has really stepped up and on Saturday it proved that’s it not just one player that steps up but the whole team.

“To beat St Pat’s in a game like that, it’s fantastic.”