Kinross coach Andrew Litchfield was glowing in his praise of the students bowling cartel after they restricted defending Orange District Cricket Association first grade premiers CYMS to the all-out total of 148, painstakingly compiled in 73.5 overs.

The suffocating innings with the ball, Litchfield says, can be attributed to great line-and-length bowling, with not one of CYMS’ batsmen managing to score higher than 24.

Charlie Mortimer (3-26) was the pick of the bowlers wicket wise, but Lance Hearn’s 2-33 from a mammoth 20 overs and Joe Priest’s 1-13 off 10.5 overs were just as instrumental in the innings.

Max Manson also proved a sharp keeper of wickets, taking four catches.

Then, faced with a tricky six-over block to end the day, Kinross opening pair Charlie Litchfield (18 not out) and Peter Crisp (2no) not only survived but knocked 25 runs - 15 of which came off one Winslade over - off the chase heading into next Saturday’s second day, a point the students’ mentor was keen to point out.

“There’s two ways you could look at that period of the game,” Andrew Litchfield said.

“You can either go into your shell and try and survive or you can play your shots and get 20 runs or so.

“We rode our luck a bit there but both Charles and Peter did wonderfully well.

“It was slow going out there, the wicket wasn’t the easiest to bat on but we didn’t stray from that good length and it made it tough for CYMS.”

With just 123 left to get and 10 wickets still in the shed, Litchfield wouldn’t buy into his side’s chances of knocking off the defending champions - not yet anyway.

“When you’re the level we are, that schoolboy level, you have to process driven and that’s exactly what we are,” he said.

“We can’t be too focussed on results and as long as the boys go out there next week and chase well, then I’ll be happy with the outcome.”

Litchfield said the plan ahead of next week’s chase was simple.

“It’s a wicket you have to be positive on,” he added.

“We won’t be able to go out there and play time so we’ll have to play our shots.”

nick.mcgrath@fairfaxmedia.com.au