The Dave Mudaliar-captained side had a great start to its Tamworth  top of the table clash when it had Old Boys 4-54 after captain Ben Middlebrook was bowled by Shawn Mepham for 26.

However Adam Lole (47), Mitch Swain (23) and Chaise Crough (34) rescued the Old Boys innings so the defending premiers could finish with a fair 195 and then strike some big body blows and have West 6-49 at stumps on the first day of the two-day match at Dick Edwards Oval.

 Mudaliar is unbeaten on 19 with Sam Pearson at the other end.

It is a dire situation but West can take a leaf out of Troy Osborne’s cricketing book.

The South Tamworth allrounder was staring down the barrel of a War Veterans Cup semi-final loss to Armidale on Sunday.

Armidale had made 219 at No 1 Oval and Tamworth were 8-144 when wicketkeeper James Haling departed.

However Osborne refused to buckle and instead took the battle up to Armidale’s bowlers, smashing eight sixes and a four in a 69-ball unbeaten 80 to win the game by a wicket!

It was an inspirational performance and maybe the best piece of power hitting under pressure seen at No 1 Oval for many a day.

 West Tamworth can use the pressure in their clash with Old Boys as a major tool in their return as a premiership prospect.

They have languished near the bottom of the table the past few seasons but entered this penultimate round in second, albeit only a few points ahead of  South Tamworth and Bective-East.

Regardless of how they finish, Mudaliar believes the experience can only help mould a stronger side for future seasons.

“We are under pressure,” he admitted at stumps on day one.

“At different times we didn’t press home the advantage.

“I was still pretty happy to bowl them out for 195 although we did have them 4-54.

“Everyone bowled well and we did it without Brendon Reynolds as well and with Shawn injured.”

Left-hander  Lole held Old Boys’  middle order together with a 94-ball 47, showing his experience in what was something of a “trial”.

Old Boys had batted Lole down the order in the Friday night One Day Final loss to Bective as well.

“We just tried something new,” Middlebrook admitted.

“We’ll just see how it goes but to be 4-54 and then get 190 was pretty good.”

He said the bowling was outstanding.

“Simon did take a screamer to get rid of Kens too,” he said of Simon Norvill’s brilliant catch to snare star West allrounder Tim Kensell for just six.

“We’ll see what we can do,” Mudaliar said.

“Losing those six wickets was disappointing but they took that screamer to get rid of Tim as well.”

The predicament is another chance for the young lower order batsmen to gain experience under extreme pressure.

Winning sometimes isn’t the only thing.

While West are in dire trouble chasing a moderate total, South Tamworth is also 7-80 chasing City United’s 135.

South skipper Josh Crowe (0) resumes with James Dunston (10) in their clash at Riverside 2 while Bective-East Bulls escaped from from 5-61 to make 185 against North Tamworth at No 1 Oval.

Fifth-placed North Tamworth must win for the Redbacks to stay alive in the hunt for a semi-final spot.