Shoemark hit his best first grade score since the 2019-20 season, eventually caught out on 96 when attempting to hit six for his century.

And Sunday he continued his red hot form, his knock of 86 helping Colts to their first Bonnor Cup win since in 17 years.

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Shoemark said it was a good all-round team performance.

"It was a good start with the bat, as Myles [Smith] and I put on a good partnership on up top," he said.

"We were able to get 159, which was tops. The opening bowlers - Hendo [Dave Henderson] and Rogo [David Rogerson - I reckon those first seven overs built it for us. We bowled tight."

Colts won the toss and opted to bat first, with Shoemark and Smith opening the batting.

Smith, a Parkes native who has linked with Colts as a marquee for the Bonnor Cup, was ultimately dismissed for 27 runs.

While Shoemark and Smith impressed with the bat, only one more Colts player managed to score double-digit figures - Nicholas Babcock (12).

Tyler Horton was the pick amongst the Centennials bowlers with 3-14 off four overs.

Horton and Kurt Toole opened the batting for Bulls and they both achieved the top two scores for the team - 24 and 36 respectively.

But the wickets from Babcock (4-27 off four) and Dan Casey (3-2 off 2.1) made the difference.

Shoemark is confident his team has a chance to win the trophy come the season's end.

"We've got a bit of youth coming through and a few old heads here. I think we're in with a shot," he said.

"Hopefully we can make it to the next round, the finals. We'll give it a fair crack.

"Obviously we've got Myles from Parkes, who's our marquees. He'll come across and give us a hand when he can. He's a good pick-up. He bowled and batted really well today."

The win also brought an end to a long drought for Colts, claiming their first Bonnor Cup since the 2003-04 season.

That last win was achieved against CYMS on January 30 of that year, when City Colts chased down the green and golds total of 212 to win by one wicket.

Back then, the Bonnor Cup was a 40-over competition, converting to its Twenty20 format at the start of the 2012-13 season.

City Colts only made their Bonnor Cup return last season, losing both games, having last played in the Bonnor Cup in that 2003-04 season.

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