Sunday's match-winning half-century was the perfect tonic for Nick Smart ahead of a couple of big weekends of cricket.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Narrabri opener will play for the Northern Inland Bolters in their Regional Big Bash pool campaign this weekend and has also been selected in the Central North opens side for the Northern NSW Country Championships the following weekend.
He was set to line up for the Bolters last season but was unavailable due to a personal commitment but went away with the Central North side.
He took a lot away from the experience and is looking forward to being involved again.
"It was a good professional environment and it was a really good bunch of guys," Smart said.
"I can't wait".
This weekend should also be fun.
The Bolters face the Coffs Coast Chargers at No.1 Oval on Saturday, then take on the Macquarie Coast Stingers on Sunday morning followed by the Northern Rivers Rock.
The winner of the pool will go on to play at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Australia Day.
READ ALSO:
"It's (Twenty20) good fun, it's a good vibe," Smart said.
"I've never played Bolters before so it will be a good experience."
He will carry in some confidence after hitting 76 off 87 balls on Sunday to steer Narrabri to a rare War Veterans Cup win in Tamworth.
"The wicket was just flat. I sort of just asked the boys (bowlers) what was happening and they said it just didn't swing or anything for us," he said.
"When I went out there I just decided to go hard at the opening bowlers. Chasing a small total I just tried to get a quick start and I think we did."
The second leading run-scorer in the Narrabri competition, and for the district side for 2017-2018, Smart only played a handful of games last season.
"I just stepped away from the game for a little bit," he said.
Having played a lot of cricket, it was what he needed to get keen again.