City Colts opener Henry Shoemark leads the BOIDC run scorer's list at halfway point of the season

So far it has been a case of mission accomplished.

At the mid-season break it is Shoemark who sits on top of the BOIDC's leading run scorer's list, the Colts talent having hit 235 from his four games so far season.

While topping the statistic is not a focus for Shoemark - he says "I don't really look at that stuff too much" - he is pleased to have found good form with the bat.

He's already scored more runs than his entire 2021-2020 campaign when scoring 224 at an average of 20.6.

"I have actually felt pretty good with the bat this year, definitely, and obviously just trying to just put a bit more onus on myself at the top of the order there after the last couple of years," he said.

"I had a pretty poor season last year by my personal standards, so it's obviously been about working on that, trying to hit more runs and try and stay out there a bit longer, not getting too carried away."

As well as scoring at a healthy average of 58.57 so far this summer, Shoemark's runs have also come quickly. His strike rate after four completed rounds is 144.2.

He's belted 35 boundaries and six sixes, but he's also pushed for quick singles when the field has been spread.

"If the field is up and the spinner is on early then I do look to try and go over the top and back myself to go over the top," he said.

"That obviously will spread the field and then rather than keep on going with that, look to get some more runs with singles and twos from there.

"Loco [Oval] definitely is a good ground for boundaries, but it always has enough in it that you're never quite in there, it's one of those grounds."

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Amongst Shoemark's knocks this season have been three half centuries as well as an 86 off 42 in the Twenty20 Bonnor Cup competition.

His highest score was a 96 in Colts' season opener at Wade Park in a one-dayer against current competition leaders Cavaliers.

While saying it does sting a little he missed out on a century, the opener admitted he had not realised he was in reach of triple figures.

"I didn't think I was that close to be honest. I came off and I thought I was on 80-odd and the boys let me know and then I was like 'Ooh I probably should've got the hundred'," he said. "But the situation we were in we had to push for quick runs, so I wasn't too worried about it."

When the season resumes in 2022, Shoemark will continue on his mission of ticking over the runs and trying to set a solid foundation for Colts.

But he will need more support as Colts look to improve on their current seventh position.

"Unavaliabilities this year has been a thing for us, not having a consistent side, then every week we've probably hit two of the three zones. If we bowl, well we field well but then don't quite get it done with the bat," he said.

"So we just haven't executed a full all-round game apart from the one good win we had. We just haven't quite been there, but I hope we can turn it around.

"I reckon once it all clicks I reckon we will be there and thereabouts."

Colts will resume their campaign on January 15 with a one-dayer against Orange City.

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