Undefeated Bathurst-Orange Inter-District Cricket competition leaders Orange City have been put under pressure for the first time this summer, and a handful of other sides worked their way into the box seat in the fourth round's opening day.
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One of those sides is Centrals who, after struggling badly in the opening two rounds of the season, now look on track to pick up their second straight win and potentially take a big step on their road to resurgence.
Even the winless, cellar-dwelling City Colts improved dramatically on Saturday, although they still look likely to be handed another defeat, their fourth on the trot.
CAVALIERS (3-98) trail CITY COLTS (195) by 97 runs
There's no doubt City Colts improved dramatically on Saturday afternoon by posting their highest total of the summer - highest innings in a game not already lost, rather - but Cavaliers still look on track to hand them a fourth straight defeat.
Henry Shoemark (66) was Colts' best on the low, slow wicket and Wayne Sellers (51) also notched a half century but the side will still lament the fact neither went on with their start, nor did Josh Toole (36).
Baby steps though, and they did have to deal with former Kinross quick Charlie Greer firing up for his new club, he snared 5-34 while fellow ex-student Gus Cumming took 2-60 and Josh Ward claimed 2-18.
Although the final 20 overs of the day aren't a time any side genuinely wants to bat, Cavaliers ticked along at a fair rate to knock off 98 of their target, although they probably lost a couple more wickets than they'd have liked.
Skipper Matt Corben continued his good form and will resume on day two unbeaten on 44 with the chance to notch a second consecutive ton, with Harry Pearce (6) the other unbeaten bat.
ST PAT'S OLD BOYS (0-48) trail KINROSS (152) by 104 runs
Veteran quick Matt Fearnley proved there's no substitute for experience at Kinross Main Oval, the former Mitchell Cricket Council new-ball bowler snared an incredible 7-49 to help skittle the students for 152.
He decimated Kinross' top order, taking their first three wickets for just 17 runs before claiming another four throughout the day.
With almost 30 overs left in the day the Saints had the chance to make their day two chase considerably easier and they did just that, with opening pair Bailey Brien (26 not out) and Andrew Brown (14 not out) surviving until stumps.
They knocked off 48 of the required 153 for victory, with just 105 left to get next weekend.
CENTRALS (2-120) trail RUGBY UNION (140) by 20 runs
After Matt Ripps and Zac Reimer tore through Rugby Union, Fletcher Rose and Jake Pauletto pushed Centrals just 21 short of their second victory of the summer, and second on the trot too.
The leg-spinning Ripps continued his wicket-taking form with 4-14 from seven overs - he's now snared 15 scalps this season at 15.3 - while Reimer took 4-12, the pair running riot at Bathurst Sportsground.
Only Brad Glasson (25) offered any real resistance for the Bulldogs, before being trapped in front by Tim Ryan (1-20), who along with Ed Dodds (1-13) took care of the other wickets on Saturday afternoon.
Backing up their attack's efforts, Rose finished unbeaten on 54 and Pauletto ended the day 51 not out. The duo added an unbeaten 108 for the third wicket after Nick Dunlop (9) and Hugh McIntyre (3) fell early and left their side in trouble at 2-12.
Rose's half ton continues his excellent form this summer and he'll resume with the chance to pass triple figures for the second time in as many games. Including his unbeaten knock he's now eclipsed 300 runs for the summer at an average of 100.3.
CENTENNIALS BULLS (9-268) lead ORANGE CITY by 268 runs
For the first time this season Orange City lost a toss and were asked to field, Centennials providing a new and different prospect for the undefeated competition leaders and rising to the challenge themselves.
After Kyle Aubin fell without scoring from the second ball of the day his brother Blake was an anchor for the Bulls in a long, 67-over stint at the crease.
He finished with a well-made 81 as the side pushed past 250 and was well-supported by Tyler Horton (59) in an 85-run, fifth-wicket stand while Mick Hutchinson provided a timely 40 at the top after losing his opening partner.
Although Aubin threw away a ton with a loose shot in the dying stages of the day he'd done more than enough to push the Bulls into a strong position at stumps, with Orange City skipper Ed Morrish (3-59) the best of the Warriors' bowlers in terms of scalps.
Shaun Grenfell switched between medium pace and leg-spin in a versatile showing on the flat Morse Park 1 wicket, rolling through 23 of the 87 overs his side bowled to finish with 2-56.
CYMS (4-123) trail BATHURST CITY (131) by eight runs
Legendary CYMS tweaker Al Dhatt returned to the field with a bang at Wade Park, taking four wickets to help rocket his side into the box seat in a rain-affected opening day against Bathurst City.
Dhatt claimed 4-36 from 14 miserly overs, picking up where he left off a couple of summers ago, and linked well with Hugh Le Lievre (2-30) and Chris Novak (2-23) to help roll the Redbacks for a well under-par tally.
It was a good day in general for the green and golds, who fielded superbly as Le Lievre's plans came off without a hitch, with only Cohen Schubert (25) really troubling the scorers for the visiting side.
Tom Belmonte continued his good form with an excellent and unbeaten 63 in the 40 overs CYMS faced, staying composed after losing Matt Baker (6), Dave Neil (7) and Ant Spruce (4) early on.
Le Lievre chipped in to help resurrect the chase after coming the crease at 3-37 and even though he was dismissed for 39 late in the day, he'd done enough to leave his side all-but assured of first innings points.
Michael Tobin kept CYMS' top order honest in taking 3-36.