Playing in stifling heat at Morse Park 1 in front of a number of former players attending the club’s reunion, it was a return to form from Ben Cummings and a classy 90 from Wade Elliott which helped ORC to their second win of the season, drawing them level with Old Boys on the competition table.

Elliott elegantly drove and pulled his way to 14 boundaries in his knock which further enhanced his reputation as one of the side’s most important players, leading the way in chasing a challenging target of 192 for victory.

Old Boys captain Peter Francis won the first battle of the day when he called correctly and elected to bat in near-40 degree heat.

Playing his fourth match back after six summers out of the game, Wayne Comerford showed why he was one of the batting heavyweights in Bathurst during the 1990s, playing the ORC bowlers with relative disdain at times and moving easily to 65 by the 20-over mark.

It was at the other end that his side was having problems as steady wickets consigned them to 6-108 after a string of middle-order failures.

It was Cummings who took the decisive wicket of Comerford, caught by Jacob Bognuda at cover.

Adam Ryan (24) and Francis (27) both made hard-hitting cameos down the order, the skipper combining with Anthony Roohan (10 not out) for a 42-run last-wicket stand to take their team to 191.

Cummings finished with 4-48 in a welcome return to the bowling crease, while Mick Fardon continued his consistent summer with 2-30.

The quick outfield meant that 191 was still a more than achievable score but after being dismissed for 88 a week earlier, ORC needed a solid start and got one through Ben Cummings (24) and Simon Lloyd.

Lloyd in particular looked in top nick and easily made it to 34 before being forced to retire in order to attend his Year 12 graduation.

Elliott immediately took control of things though and even managed to dominate a 74-run partnership with Bruce Webb, who made a steady 22.

Old Boys were realistically never in the game with the ball as the run-rate stayed above five for the entire innings and the wickets were simply too few and far between – not helped by the late withdrawal of seamer Emile van Schalkwyk.

Mohamed Dewji was the only Old Boys bowler to control the ORC top order, taking 2-31 from his eight overs.

After three straight losses to open the season and the catastrophe against Oxford, Fardon was relieved to see his side bounce back.