Railz proved the doubters wrong, he was one of the brighter spots to come from Western’s ill-fated tilt and now he’s keen to make his mark in the Cricket NSW Plan B Regional Bash.

Railz is one of a number of new faces called in to help the Outlaws defend their crown, starting at this weekend’s Thunder Conference carnival in Orange.

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The South Dubbo talent, who was part of the ACT/NSW Country squad at this season’s Cricket Australia Under 17s National Championship, hasn’t featured with the ball yet due to a back injury but has made his presence felt with the bat.

“The season’s panned out well considering I’m still working my way back to bowling and I’m a couple weeks off,” he said.

“It’s given me an insight on other ways to play the game. I’ve been focusing on batting a lot, especially in under age stuff like the 17s, I was there as a batsman and changed the way I played the game.”

While Plan B Regional Bash sides have to have two players under the age of 21, there’s no doubt the likes of Railz and CYMS star Brock Larance would have been pushing for a spot regardless.

Railz made a classy and mature 85 in the RSL-Whitney Cup earlier this season while Western Zone skipper Jordan Moran claimed the left-hander won the game for his side when making 26 not out from number eight in a high pressure situation against Central North.

“I had Outlaws in mind but as a bowler so it’s a big of a shock to be a week away from bowling and to be in the side,” Railz said, adding he was shocked to earn Western selection too.

“It’s good news though and another opportunity.

“It’s not a team I’ve been around a lot and it seems a different group to last year but we should still go well.”

In terms of this weekend, Orana plays the Wranglers under lights at Wade Park on Saturday night before meeting the talent-stacked Aces and South Coast Crew on Sunday, Railz expects a higher level again.

“It should be a good experience and I’m just hoping for some sort of opportunity,” he said.

The winner of this weekend’s Thunder Conference Orange pool will join the Newcastle Blasters and Wagga Wagga Sloggers in the semi-finals, the fourth spot will go to the Coffs Coast Chargers, Macquarie Coast Stingers, Northern Inland Bolters and Northern Rivers Rock.

With rain around, the question of what happens in the event of a washed-out weekend considering the ACT has moved to the top of the group with their win over South Coast has arisen.

Section 19.3 of the competition’s playing conditions addresses that exact issue, and states that ”if matches are played at separate locations and on separate dates and matches at either location are weather affected, then 50 per cent of total pool matches must be completed to determine a winner of the pool”.

It goes on to say that “if less than 50 per cent are completed, then the side to progress to the conference final is the highest finishing side from last season. If those positions are equal, the side with the overall highest run rate from the previous season will progress”.

That means just two of six games – with five overs minimum for both sides –  must be completed to fulfill that minimum 50 per cent, while if the latter situation arises, Orana will progress.