The Campbelltown Camden Ghosts are in a strong position after day one of their round six match against Western Suburbs at Raby Sports Complex on Saturday.
Sent into bat by Western Suburbs when the visitors won the toss, Ghosts were all out for 304.
At stumps, the Ghosts had the visitors in trouble at three for 58.
In the race between veteran Ghosts batsmen Jarrad Burke and Phillip Wells to see who will be first to reach the 10,000 first grade runs milestone, the skipper still has the edge.
After contributing 18 on Saturday, Burke needs just 38 runs, while Wells requires 71 runs to get there.
On Saturday, the Ghosts got away to a good start on the back of an aggressive Aaron Yabsley innings of 75.
Yabsley and his opening partner Mitchell Carruthers combined for 85 runs before Carruthers was caught for 26 runs.
Phillip Wells, batting a three, hit 10 boundaries on his way to 72 runs and like Yabsley, would be disappointed not to have claimed a century.
Wells enjoyed a 92 run partnership with Jaidyn Simmons after Ollie Pope departed when he was caught at short leg.
The lower middle order all got away to good starts but failed to convert.
Only a run a ball 26 runs from all rounder Luke Webb pushed the Ghosts across the 300 mark.
The Ghosts, all out for 304, may have appeared a little short of par given the conditions but with 18 overs of play remaining in the day an opportunity presented to put a dint in the Western Suburbs order.
And the Ghosts bowling attack took it.
The visitors lost their first wicket early to a smart catch by keeper Ollie Pope off the left-handed bowling of Luke Webb.
NSW under 19 bowler Iain Carlisle claimed the other Wests opener before the ever-reliable skipper Jarrad Burke trapped the Western Suburbs number three Nick Cutler in front for 26.
The visitors require a further 246 runs next week when play resumes next Saturday at 10.30am.
However, the Ghosts will be without two of their quick bowlers in Iain Carlisle and Sam Skelly, who are prevented from bowling due to NSW under 19 commitments.
RESULTS – lower grades
Second grade: Campbelltown Camden 1/26 Wests 10-229, Patrick O’Neill 4/75, Jarred Lysaught 3/50;
Third grade: Campbelltown Camden 8/287 Wests – Yet to bat Yarrin Fair-Townsend 68*, Matthew Hudson 51, Brent Hardy 47, Ji Mills 30, Brandon Redman 30;
Fourth grade: Campbelltown Camden 10/168 and 2/6 Wests 4/171 dec, Ayesh Misra 47, Chris Inger 32*, Roscoe Ray 26;
Fifth grade: Wests 8/305 Campbelltown Camden – yet to bat;
Poidevin Gray Shield: Penrith 8/227 Campbelltown Camden 7/227, match tied. Charlie Dummer 85, Nathan Baker 54.
