That's the feelings of Cougars captain Ben O'Donnell after his side moved off the bottom of the ladder courtesy of an impressive 79-run win over defending premiers Rugby.

The win at No. 2 Oval was set up by an outstanding 180-run opening partnership from Ryan Medley and Stuart Naden as CYMS made 6-228 and then bowled Rugby out for 149.

"We had something to prove today and that was that we can take it to the top of the ladder sides and if we can field this side we're a force," O'Donnell said after the match.

"We've got to bring our A game for the rest of the season and for that to happen I need all the big guns back so I just hope we can field this side and if we can I'm more than confident that we can be there, we've got to bring it home."

After winning the toss and batting the Cougars opening pair immediately set about building a positive start.

Medley and Naden's running between the wickets put the pressure on the Rugby fielders and then they lifted the run rate further to be 0-92 at the 20-over drinks break.

Both soon brought up their half centuries as the partnership went past three figures and it appeared the pair were a chance of getting hundreds until Naden was bowled by Blake Watmore for 76.

Medley followed just seven runs later for 83 and in the final six overs the rest of the CYMS batsmen helped the score well past 200.

Jacob Bruce claimed 3-27 for Rugby while Blake Watmore (2-51) and Ben Taylor (1-37) were the other wicket-takers.

With regular captain Jordan Moran out injured, Michael Kempston returned to the side but he became the first wicket to fall when Ben Strachan had him edging to slip.

Strachan gave the batsmen no opportunity to settle and he soon had the Kempston double when Harry was bowled.

Skipper O'Donnell picked up Aidan Bennewith just before drinks and soon after Mitch Bower fell for 29.

With the required run rate building, wickets continued to fall regularly with only Nathan Munro (47) providing any resistance.

Strachan, opening with the returning Corey Suckling, created all the pressure early and finished 2-17 from his eight overs while other wicket-takers were Ben O'Donnell (2-18), Ryan Medley (1-20), Dale O'Donnell (1-6) and Nick Guthrie (4-42).

"It was a win set up by good batting," O'Donnell said.

"I couldn't have asked much of the boys as they made 180 opening stand. That really makes my job a lot easier and I can't complain there.

"There was a couple of moments (in the field) where we went a bit flat and a couple of catches went down but the most complete our game has been, it was a really good win.

"I can't remember the last time we beat Rugby, last season was disappointing and this season has been so much better."