After knocking over three quick wickets, the Campbelltown Camden Ghosts would have started thinking inviting their hosts Liverpool Fairfield Lions to bat first had been the right move.
Unfortunately, by the time the fourth wicket fell at Rosedale Oval on Saturday afternoon the home side had amassed 286 runs.
By stumps they had lost another four wickets to be 8 for 378 on the first day of the round 2 match in the NSW Premier Cricket premiership of 2017-18.
Less than a week after a handsome limited overs victory against Sutherland at Raby, the Ghosts received a reality check from a couple of Liverpool batsmen.
Luke Ohrynowski and Harmon Sandhu came together with the Lions in trouble at 3 for 46 and the Ghosts keen as mustard to repeat their heroics of a week earlier.
But it was not to be as Ohrynowski and Sandhu put on a massive 240 run partnership to destroy any chance the Ghosts had of returning to Raby with premiership points.
Ironically, both were run out, Ohrynowski when he was 141 and Sandhu on 108.
Liverpool lost their first wicket when the scoreboard showed just six runs had been scored, with the second falling at 41, and the third just five runs later at 46.
Skipper Jarrad Burke was the best of the bowlers for the visitors, claiming four wickets for 65 runs.
Burke bowled almost 29 overs, a mighty effort, and which also included 12 maidens.
Luke Webb finished with none for 87 off 22 overs, while Iain Carlile went for 58 runs in his 16 overs.
Assuming Liverpool declare at 8/378, that will still be a giant mountain to climb for the Ghosts batters when play resumes this Saturday.
It will certainly be a stern test of a club that’s trying really hard to become a grade cricket powerhouse, having elected former NSW premier Morris Iemma as its president.
His vice president is current Liberal member for Camden Chris Patterson.
