Colts made their way to 235 on the back of Casey and Russ Gardner's (72) big scores, easily passing the CYMS total of 102 runs during their partnership, to take first innings points and set themselves up for a potential outright win next Saturday.

Casey hit 15 fours and a pair of sixes at Loco Oval in a determined knock after Colts lost a pair of quick wickets in their middle order.

He and Gardner took the game away from CYMS in a flash and in the process strengthened Colts' position inside the competition's top four.

Gardner now has knocks of 80, 156 not out and Saturday's 72 across his last three innings, solidifying his position of the competition's danger man with the bat.

Tom Satterthwaite (35) was the only CYMS batsman to get off to a genuine start as Colts bowlers Angus Daymond (4-27) and Casey (3-21) never let the Orange side get going.

Colts captain Casey said it was satisfying to put an innings together.

"It was a really great team effort. Russ has scored a few runs this year now and other than Russ we've had different guys standing up each week getting runs or wickets, which is what you want to see," Casey said.

"I'd been struggling with the bat this year, to be honest, and I hadn't had a lot of net sessions. But once I got set I felt pretty good. I just have to get past that 10 or 20 runs then I start to feel pretty good.

"They bowled pretty well. We were in a bit of trouble. I know they only got 100 on the board but they picked up a few quick wickets. I played and missed at a few but Russ was just awesome, as he has been, and if he didn't get the runs he got early on then we probably would have struggled."

DAN Casey scored his first top grade century in almost four years when he hit 103 in a memorable day for both himself and his City Colts side.

Colts made their way to 235 on the back of Casey and Russ Gardner's (72) big scores, then rolled opponents CYMS for just 102 runs as the Bathurst men claimed first innings point day the end of day one.

Casey hit 15 fours and a pair of sixes at Loco Oval in a determined knock after Colts lost a pair of quick wickets in their middle order.

Gardner now has knocks of 80, 156 not out and Saturday's 72 across his last three innings, solidifying his position of the competition's danger man with the bat.

Tom Satterthwaite (35) was the only CYMS batsman to get off to a genuine start as Colts bowlers Angus Daymond (4-27) and Casey (3-21) never let the Orange side get going.

Colts were precariously positioned at 4-53 before Gardner and Casey took control.

Casey said a great day in the field helped take the pressure of his side during the chase.

"It's the first game where we've had a lot of options with the ball. We've always had a couple of part-time options. We didn't have Stevo [Matt Stephen] but Boggy [Jacob Bognuda] was back and we've had Tom Murray from second grade come up to help us out," he said.

"The time in first grade has helped him and he's been able to step up. Him and Hendo [Dave Henderson] have been great and Toley [Josh Toole] has been good too.

"I knew the pitch would suit Angus. And he's one of those blokes who puts the ball in good areas. It was a little bit up and down and he was able to get a bit of skid."