NEWTOWN'S Whitney Cup clash with CYMS hangs in the balance after the opening day of play, with a pair of stellar individual performances cancelling each other out.
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Tigers opener Dan Holland made a classy 117 but received little in the way of support after a six-wicket haul from CYMS quick Ben Strachan helped restrict Newtown to just 217.
In reply, the Cougars finished day one on 1-29 but that could have been worse had Newtown not dropped Dave McAlister (3no) on the final ball of the day.
With skipper Mat Skinner missing due to suspension, it was important that someone stepped up and took on some responsibility after the Tigers were sent in to bat.
Holland filled that role, with his innings subtle at times and brutal at others as he handled the early onslaught from Strachan and thrived.
He put away anything that was loose, belting nine boundaries and clearing the No.2 Oval perimeter on three occasions.
"It was good to see because he's been building to something like that for a while now," Newtown's Steve Skinner said.
"Last year he had a good season and probably made more than 400 runs, and he's had a couple of starts so far this year and probably got comfortably and not gone on with it.
"He batted really well and it was also good that young Tom Barber played well and made 32.
"He came in when 'Strachany' was on a bit of a high. He had just got me out and he peppered Tom with a couple of short balls but he handled them and got on with it and batted well.
"Dan French has been working with him a lot in the nets and he is a guy that's going to play first grade for us for a lot of years to come."
After Strachan (6/59) wrapped up the tail by knocking over the stumps of the last four batsmen, he opened the batting and was unbeaten on 19 when stumps were called.
But as he is part of the Orana Outlaws squad heading to the SCG next weekend, he may not be there to continue his innings.
"If we can take a couple of wickets early next week and they don't have 'Strachany' then there's no reason we can't still win this game," Skinner said.
"We should have made more runs and we would love to have more on the board but we don't.
"We have to go out next week and apply pressure from the start and hope we can make them nervous.
"It's the tightest competition I can remember this season, and any loss could cost you a finals spot. It will take a tight bowling effort but that's what we'll be aiming for."
