The Cats were on the brink of disaster at Ransford Oval on Saturday, stumbling to 8-105 on day one and in need of a late flurry of runs.

Last year's captain Trent Said combined with this year's skipper Darrel Brown for an innings-rescuing 76 for the ninth wicket.

Said played the anchor role with 38 not out, while Brown unleashed all the shots in his arsenal to score 59 on a day he was relegated to No.10 due to not being 100 per cent fit.

"He wasn't feeling too good," Cats president Steve McNamara said. "He had a bit of a niggle so he got pushed down the order.

"It was a classic Darrel Brown innings. He played his shots, but not recklessly."

Arguably the most important knock was that of Said. The all-rounder has experienced an indifferent season with the bat, averaging just 15.2, and has been demoted to No.7.

Said was desperate to save his side with a stubborn display and did that while also ticking the strike over.

He was undoubtedly the glue that held the innings together.

"Trent would be the first to admit that he's had a lean season with the bat," McNamara said.

"Over the years when he's been in this situation he's responded."

What also cannot be discounted is the late resistance offered by plucky tail-ender Mark Craig, who produced 15 in a 29-run partnership with Said to move the score beyond 200.

Meanwhile, young opening batsman Liam Andrew is missing from the Cats team following an injury sustained in the first game of the new year.

Andrew mistimed a pull shot against Bentleigh and the ball squeezed through the grille on his helmet and into his eye socket.

He needed three stitches and will see a specialist this week.

McNamara said the talented youngster would be out indefinitely.