Making the most of the batter-friendly conditions at Wade Park, Neil’s composed ton guided CYMS to the biggest first-innings total of the 2014-15 Orange District Cricket Association season, in turn placing his side in a very commanding position to secure crucial premiership points.

Neil’s unbeaten century is the first by a CYMS player since Luke Clarke hit 105 in the first round of the 2012-13 ODCA season, coincidentally against Centrals.

While for Neil, it’s the right-hander’s first ton in green and gold colours since hitting 133 against Orange City in January, 2010.

“I hit a couple in Wollongong and the year before I left Orange I got one, but since I’ve been back it’s been pretty bleak,” Neil said, his 169-run opening stand with Matt Baker (78) getting CYMS on the front foot early.

“You’d like to think 300 is pretty defendable even with a ridiculously flat deck. 

“I hope we get a bit of rain during the week.”

Neil’s innings now accompanies his 78 from round one, giving him an average of 234 this summer.

On the other side of the coin, it was a tough day for Centrals’ bowlers.

In a toiling day in the field, Dan Sandford nabbed Nick Wright (five) relatively early to capture 1-55 from his 14 overs, including three maidens.

Pinching the wicket of Hugh Le Lievre (31), Dean Turner’s 1-42 off 11 overs was also crucial in somewhat restricting CYMS.

Matt Burgess, 1-22 off three overs, picked up the key wicket of Baker leg-before-wicket to break his century-opening stand with Neil.

In reply, Centrals lasted seven overs prior to stumps but lost the wicket of George Olsen early to leave Wade Park after day one at 1-13, needing a further 279 for what would appear an unlikely first innings victory.

Neil, though, was of the belief CYMS will still have to work for its wickets.

“We won’t have the Pom (Curtis Free) which will weaken our attack and Hughy (Le Lievre) too, but with Ham (Finlayson), (Chris) Novak, Al Dhatt and Patty Madden we’ve still got enough strike there to get the wickets,” he added.

A very happy skipper, Finlayson lauded his in-form top order.

“It was a very impressive day of cricket, there’s not a lot else to say,” Finlayson said.

“The boys batted brilliantly.”

Turner (1no) and Hutchinson (7no) are the not out batsmen for Centrals heading into next Saturday’s second day at Wade Park.

But Finlayson said with a mountainous total now in the books, CYMS will look towards executing set plans in a bid to secure first innings points, then perhaps outright victory as well.

“We’ve got a week now to come up with a few plans but we’ve got plenty of runs to play with, so we might try a few different things,” he said.

“Hopefully we can execute well.”