Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket: Mark Day hits 83 in century stand with John Rudge as Redbacks account for Centrals

Eight three runs and 12 boundaries later you have to say he certainly achieved that.

Day led the way for Bathurst City in their big seven wicket victory over Centrals at Morse Park 1, joining forces with John Rudge (38 not out) in a match-winning, unbeaten 120-run partnership.

Centrals were made to regret dropping Day on just four runs as he hit the Orange side to all corners of Morse Park, helping Redbacks put a heavy round one loss behind them.

"It was a pretty great result for us because we didn't get off to the best start last round so it's nice to get on the board," Day said.

"We had a look at the deck in the morning and thought we'd have a bowl if we won the toss, which we did. We didn't get off to the best of starts but in the middle session Matt Willis and Joey Coughlan got four wickets between them and we turned it around."

Max Powell (56) proved a handful for the Redbacks attack as he made his way to a half century across a two hour knock but the Centrals opener did have much in the way of support.

Centrals finished their 40 overs on 9-161, with Colin Starkey (20) chipping in down the order to give Redbacks a competitive total to chase.

Willis finished the best of the Redbacks bowlers with 3-27 from his eight overs, while Clint Moxon finished with 2-35.

Bathurst City's chase got off to an average start, and Centrals would have felt they were in with a great chance at 3-43.

Coughlan (12), Mick Tobin (19) and Jacob Pepper (0) didn't hang around at the crease for a long time but the same couldn't be said for Day and Rudge.

Day really wanted to focus on hanging around at the start of his innings - and that almost came apart just four runs into his time at the crease.

But from there he rarely looked shaken.

"I'd hit a heap of balls in the off-season so I felt ready, but I wasn't happy with the way I started last week," Day said.

"I'd got dropped on four ... but it started to come together for me and Rudgey after drinks. From that point on everything just seemed to come off the middle for us."

Day and Rudge caught the total with eight overs in hand.

Zac Reimer (1-16), Starkey (1-19) and Ben Winslade (1-15) were the Centrals wicket takers.

It was an extra satisfying result from Redbacks after last season's game against Centrals was washed out in its second week, with Bathurst City in a strong position.