Simon Milenko hit back at critics at the top of the order, directing an assault on the Greater Northern Raiders.
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The maligned allrounder has averaged just 8.50 over eight innings for the Hobart Hurricanes this season that includes been promoted up to open and No.3 with scores of 17, 6, 12 and a duck.
So, the Kookaburra Cup clash at Burnie's West Park looked to be the unlikeliest of stages for the 31-year-old to make a statement on his Big Bash League omission.
The return back to South Hobart-Sandy Bay cajoled a dangerous 77 off 58 balls that included five sixes late on Saturday in the side's 6-304.
"It's never easy chasing 300, obviously," Raiders captain Miles Barnard said.
"They had a pretty good lineup and won the toss to bat first. We actually did pretty okay for about 40 overs, but then some really good hitting from Simon Milenko and a couple of other blokes hurt."
Harry Nichols hit 67 off 82, Sean Wills 59 off 60 and a promoted Hamish Kingston an impressive 40 off only 23.
The Raiders attack proved to be a feeding frenzy for the Sharks, who lost in their T20 meeting four weeks back.
The visitors had upped the ante to tee off with 142 in the final 15 overs that included 104 alone from the 40th over.
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"We just could not get a hold of them," Barnard said.
"We had thought we might have kept them under 250."
The Raiders was unable to return the favour.
They were left in a holding pattern and made 7-183, taking until the 34th over to reach 100.
Brodie Hayes, who has scored two centuries in red-ball cricket, struggled with one four amid 24 off 72 balls.
Jake Williams picked up the pace towards a fourth half-century in nine outings to equal Milenko's 77, but in twice as many deliveries.
Even the always aggressive Barnard had to swallow his pride early before adding a second half-century against the Sharks with 60 off 84 balls from the middle order.
"They bowled a lot of change-ups with the pitch a bit slower, bit wetter and they really rolled their fingers over the ball," Barnard said.
"They made it very hard to score - it wasn't like we were going out to block the 50 overs.
"They had some class bowlers and we found scoring quite difficult at times."
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
