City Colts were largely touted as raging pre-season favourites ahead of the reinvigorated Bathurst-Orange Inter-District Cricket season, and they'll be desperate to live up to that status after an up-and-down day in the field last weekend.
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Colts reportedly shelled more than half a dozen chances on the first day of their round one clash against Centennials Bulls who, led by Kyle Aubin's 69, gleefully took advantage and worked their way to 7-258 by stumps.
The obvious option for the Bulls would be to try and bat Colts side out of the game by pushing well beyond the 300 mark, and potentially force them to either play for a draw or risk losing should they be bowled out.
One thing's clear though, the Bulls will need more than 300, considering the strength of Colts' top order, plenty of whom are returning to the side for Saturday's second day.
Henry Shoemark, Jaden Ekert and Wayne Sellers all return after helping Central West to the top of their pool and to the Cricket NSW Plan B Regional Bash finals, while former Western Zone gun Josh Toole will make his debut for the club too.
"With our attack, if we can bat for the full day then we should get the runs," Shoemark said.
With our attack, if we can bat for the full day then we should get the runs.
- City Colts' Henry Shoemark
"Hopefully we can take those quick wickets and get out there with the bat. We did have hard hitters there who can score quickly but it will be a case of being more selective.
"Bulls have done well to get the names they have on their team. We definitely won't be underestimating them. From all reports, they had great partnerships and there were no two quick wickets together.
"There is a bit of hype around but everyone's keen, which is the really important thing.
"The pressure at the top of our batting line up is good. It will make people turn up to training and dig in deep because there's probably 14 first graders there itching to be in that top six."
In the other games in Bathurst, St Pat's Old Boys are 3-42 in reply to Cavaliers' 201 at Scots All Saints while Bathurst City should cruise past Rugby Union and, potentially, try to set up an outright win at Bathurst Sportsground.
With skipper Joey Coughlan not out on 86, Redbacks are 1-135 in reply to the Bulldogs' 167. All three games resume at 1.30pm.
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