SOUTH Dubbo Hornets may be last on the Whitney Cup table, but their bowlers certainly didn't hold back with a big performance to hit back and have Newtown all out for 164 on day one of their match on Saturday at No.2 Oval.

Although rain forced players from the field three overs into the South Dubbo innings, the game is delicately poised when the final 75 overs are played out on Saturday.

Souths are 1-14 with William Orr out for a duck on the second ball of Mat Skinner's second over.

Nathan Finlay (7) and Scott Tucker (4) saw out the remaining overs and hopefully will add further runs when the innings resumes.

While Newtown made nearly four runs an over to be all out for 164 in the 42nd over, they could have done better and like the previous week against Rugby, fell away in the batting after getting a good start.

Although Wayne Dunlop was bowled by Tim Berry with the last ball of his second over for four, in-form opener Tetaan Henning and his captain Steve Skinner added a further 81 for the second wicket in just 15 overs.

Skinner was first out for 48 but three runs later his brother Mat went sent packing with Berry again the successful bowler.

Wickets continued to fall with Newtown going from 2-87 after 19th overs to 6-124 in 28 overs.

Henning continued his good form of late with 42 but only Warrick Finlay's 29 made any real impression with Newtown losing their last four wickets for 19 runs.

The South Dubbo bowling attack was more than adequate with Berry in great form taking 3-27 from 11 overs; Nathan Finlay chipped in with 3-31 from 11.3 overs and Asher Robbins relished his chance in the top grade with figures of 3-16 from four overs.

Souths skipper Matt Finlay said it was a weird day of cricket with the rain a nuisance.

"Newtown were something like 2-90 when the first rain came and despite their good second wicket partnership we kept taking wickets," he said.

"The rain later got heavier and after putting the covers back on we waited something like one and a half hours, then came back and played another 15 minutes or so before it was called off.

"While I wasn't keen to play in the rain, Newtown were which mean it was up to the umpire (Keith Morton) to make the call."

Finlay said the bowling of Berry didn't surprise him.

"He's bowled really well all season, but just hasn't got the wickets he's deserved," Finlay said.

"As it turned out it was a good toss to lose.

"With the rain and the ball hard to grip, it wasn't easy for the bowlers but still Nathan (Finlay) was able to work away with it with his spinners and deserved his three wickets."

Matt Finlay now braces himself for the run chase with 75 overs available if need be.

"If we don't get the runs we'll only have ourselves to blame," he said.

"Unfortunately we haven't had a great season and have regularly lost wickets at the start of the innings which don't do much for your confidence."