Nick Babcock takes first five-wicket haul since joining City Colts, Kennewell keeps game alive

Babcock's super figures of 5-36 from 23 overs in the Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket two-day clash helped Colts have the visiting Centrals all out for 205.

While that's still an excellent result for the hosts at the small ground it could have been even better, since they had Centrals in a nightmare position of 7-80 at one stage.

Darryl Kennewell resurrected the Centrals innings with a quick knock of 73, batting at number nine, and was supported by an ultra-patient innings from Kurt Gander (43 from 167 deliveries).

Babcock, who finished with six maidens, said Centrals' rotation of strike helped put an end to the bleeding of wickets.

"We were doing well with them seven for 80-odd. He came out after lunch and just went berserk and started hitting everyone, except for me, since I kept bowling to the other batsman most of the time," he said.

"[Kennewell] would be taking a single off me and then the next five would be dot balls. He'd then be getting boundaries away from the other end in the next over.

"It was after I bowled from the other end that he finally ended up hitting one down the throat of mid-off on the boundary, so that change worked well for us.

"There was a little bit in the pitch for everyone. There was a bit of bounce and plenty of turn for me, which certainly helps."

Babcock has added a handy all-round option for Colts after moving to the city this year.

"I came over from the Central Coast, from the Northern Power Cricket Club. The move's been good. My partner got work out here, and she's got family in Bathurst, Oberon and Mandurama," he said.

"Bathurst is a great city. There's plenty to do here, and has everything you need, and I've found some work myself so everything's falling into place.

"Cricket's been good. Obviously we'd like to find a bit more success as a team but they're a great bunch of blokes who have welcomed me with open arms."

Colin Starkey (25) and opener Cam Roberts (16) were the only other Centrals players to hit double figures during Babcock's dismantling of the middle order.

Pat Hill (2-20) and Dave Henderson (2-34) were the other multiple wicket takers for Colts, with Mark Sheather (1-46) taking the wicket of Roberts.

On the smaller Loco Oval the Colts will still be favoured to get the chase done next Saturday, especially with the likes of big hitters Henry Shoemark and Josh Toole set to come back into the lineup.

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