Victoria's Chris Rogers felt in the zone as he went about scoring a superb century in his first match against Western Australia that left him tremendously satisfied.
On a wicket where batsmen have struggled to get settled, Rogers looked right at home and had no trouble whatsoever adjusting to the pitch that received two hours of rain and constantly found the middle of his bat.
Rogers ended up making 115 from 132 balls with 19 fours and three sixes in his first appearance for the Bushrangers against the Warriors. His 30th first-class century will be one he long remembers.
"I felt in the zone and that doesn't happen too often. For whatever reason it was just one of those days and I went with it. I felt I could play my shots and it turned out well," Rogers said.
"It is one of the more satisfying centuries I've scored. There has been a little bit of pressure to do well and I'm pretty happy with how it went."
Rogers is focused on helping get a win for the Bushrangers but he was surprised at the lack of banter directed at him in the middle. Brett Dorey (5-65) and Steve Magoffin (2-47) bowled tremendously, though, and Rogers enjoyed locking horns with the pair.
"Particularly early, they were outstanding and I didn't really know how I was going to survive for a while. They are very impressive in those conditions and it's quite satisfying that I got through facing them," he said.
"I don't know if that was their tactic to leave me alone or not, but I didn't hear much at all. When you go back and play the state you used to play for there is always going to be a bit of feeling but I'm more worried about helping get a win for Victoria."
The Bushrangers ended the second day at 8-238 in reply to WA's 239 and Rogers is hopeful that Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle and Dirk Nannes secure first innings points early on day three. He then hopes the Vics can set up victory on a pitch still with plenty of life.
"We were looking at a decent lead at one stage but there is a little bit still in the wicket. We are pretty close and if we can get first innings points, hopefully we can set up a good victory," he said.
"To get two runs is the plan and then as many as we can on top of that. We will then have to bowl well in the second innings because I don't think there's as much life in the wicket as there was on the first day. It's going to be important that we knock them over and don't have to chase too many on the last day."
"How the pitch plays depends on the rain. If it keeps getting moisture on it then it will always be fresh and lively, but if we do get a bit of sun then I would expect it to flatten out and for it to get better for batting."