For the second year running, Dane Anderson kicked off his season with a century.
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The Westbury stalwart was on fire in the Shamrocks' eight-wicket win over Riverside last round, reaching 103 not out off just 87 balls with 12 fours and four sixes.
Blues captain Tom Garwood described the innings as "fun to watch but frustrating at the same time" - a feeling no doubt shared by plenty of bowling teams during Anderson's career.
"It's obviously a good way to start the season," Anderson said.
"At my age you wonder whether you're going to be any good any more each year so it's nice to start well and start the season with a win.
"It's always a nice place to bat out at Westbury so I was pretty confident we could do well and it was good having Matt Battle back as well."
Anderson brought up three figures off the last ball of the game, driving Tom Lewis over mid-off for four.
The former Tassie Tiger said he didn't know he was on 99 at the time.
"There's no individual scores on the board - I knew I was pretty close but it wasn't really at the top of my mind, it was just to try and get the win," he said.
"I thought I'd be on 90-something so it was a nice way to finish it off I suppose."
Set to meet Devonport on his 35th birthday on Saturday, Anderson said he was most looking forward to seeing his side's younger brigade develop throughout the season.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
The Shamrocks' opening round XI was a mix of experienced senior players and rising youngsters, of whom teenager Kaleb Williams (4-21) was the pick of the bunch.
"Kaleb was excellent - he played one game last year but he didn't take any wickets so it was his first first-grade wickets on the weekend," Anderson said.
"He didn't get much of a chance last year when he did play, but his opportunities will be starting to come through the roof now and he's creating them himself which is good - the same as two or three of our other young guys.
"So that's the main thing I'm enjoying, helping the kids play some good cricket and if I can get a few runs along the way that helps I guess."
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