In what was his first game in the Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket competition, Broes claimed 5-5 off his eighth overs - five of which were maidens - to help the Saints to an eight-wicket win over ORC at Morse Park 1.

Though it wasn't the first time the spinner had claimed a five-for as part of the Saints' first XI - he'd done it three times in Bathurst first grade - his effort in Saturday's season opening bonus-point win was something special.

"It was just a couple of lucky ones, right bowler, right time I suppose," he said.

"A couple of them turned early, but I think it was just the different sort of angles I played around with and obviously a couple were just poor shots. I'm pretty happy considering I haven't done a lot of bowling in the pre-season, last week at training was really the first time I'd bowled since last season."

Broes has spent the last two summers playing in the ACT Premier Cricket competition for Western District. He did have his moments with the ball for them - he snagged a 4-4 in January this year - but he's happy to be back contributing for the Saints.

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He feels returning to the side he won the 2018-19 Bathurst first grade premiership with is important.

"It's a bit of a difference from last year. For this year, it doesn't really bother me if I take five wickets, one wicket, no wickets or if I get 10 runs or 100 runs, it doesn't matter, I just want to get a bit of enjoyment back into the game, which is something I lacked last year," he said.

"I don't want to worry about results as much, I'll do my part for the team, but I just want to enjoy the game I fell in love with, see if I can get that back.

"I've played with pretty much all those guys before, so it's lot more comfortable and a friendly environment to be in, I think that's the best way to get the enjoyment back into it.

"Last year every time I trained it had to be at a certain level and I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to perform. It might take me a few games here to realise it's not all about that, to enjoy it more than anything is the main goal this year."

ORC, returning to the BOIDC this season, was sent in to bat after losing the toss and made a reasonable start to their innings as Dave Sellers (10) and Hamish Siegert (28) put on a 44-run stand.

But when that partnership was broken by Broes, momentum quickly swung.

Broes had Sellers caught out, went on to bowl three of his victims and trap another Tigers' batsman LBW.

Combined with a handy 3-20 off six from Connor Slattery, the Saints had the Tigers all out for 101 in the 36^th over.

While ORC managed to dismiss opener Andrew Brown (one) and Broes (nine) cheaply to have the Saints at 2-26, last season's runners-up quickly ended any hopes of an upset.

Slattery backed up his efforts with the ball by cracking an unbeaten 59 off 54 deliveries after coming in at number four, while Bailey Brien finished on 21 not out as they saw it home in the 20^th over.

Tim McKinnon was the pick of the Tigers' bowlers with 1-18 off his six overs.

Broes praised Slattery for his efforts, his knock including five boundaries and three sixes.

"I've had a few hits with him in the pre-season and he looks pretty much a million bucks, he went out there and was in total control straight away. Bails batted well too, he hit a boundary here and there," he said.

"It was just a nice game for us to ease into the season, I know a lot of blokes their bodies will be a bit stiff. I know with my batting, it felt like I hadn't batted for three years."

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