North Tamworth skipper Adam Greentree says he hasn't seen Michael Rixon batting as well as he is this season in all his years playing with him after the Redbacks no.4 continued his Steve Smith-esque season against South Tamworth at Riverside 2 on Saturday.
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The 30-year old is amassing runs like the Aussie star did in the 2019 Ashes.
Before Saturday he had scored 339 at an average of 48.43. In the space of a few hours that soared to 510 at 63.75 as Rixon produced one of, if not his best, innings for the Redbacks.
His swashbuckling 171 was his highest-ever score for them, surpassing his 160 against City United back in the 2013-14 season.
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"I don't really know how to describe it," Rixon said.
"Everything just went my way, I guess."
It was his second century for the season to go with three half-centuries, and saw him overtake older brother Brendan again as the competition's leading run-scorer.
More importantly though, it enabled the Redbacks to post a very competitive first innings score of 242.
At 2-17 when Rixon came to the crease, they were in a bit of trouble, but he promptly set about turning the game firmly in their favour.
Understandably "pretty tired" by the end of his innings with the mercury reaching the mid-30s, Rixon said it was the best he has "felt out there" this season. He was pretty well chanceless until his eventual dismissal and cracked 25 fours.
"I (just) felt really comfortable," he said.
"It wasn't a bad batting wicket, you got value for your shots."
Incidentally his previous century (120) also came at Riverside 2. In that game he also shared a double-century stand with Brendan.
For Greentree, from his vantage point under the shade of the trees on the western side of Riverside 2, it was simply a joy to watch.
"When he gets going he's very easy on the eye, and he just hits the ball where it's supposed to go and obviously when he's in a mood like he was today he's unstoppable," he said.
He has seen plenty of great knocks from Rixon over the more than 10 years they have played together but said this season is the best he's seen him bat.
"He's really applying himself. He's always had the ability but he's probably mentally approaching the game a bit better than he has in previous years and obviously the results show for themselves," he said.
Henry Smith (13) and Sam Holt (12) were the only other batsmen, after opener Lincoln Peters (11), to make double figures, but they all played their part.
"What I sent the boys out to do was just to try and bat with Michael at the other end," Greentree said.
"He makes batting look so easy that you don't even need to score from the other end.
"As long as he's got someone to bat with at the other end he'll look after the scoreboard."
Josh Attard and Angus McNeil were the best of the Souths bowlers with three wickets apiece.
They will resume at 1-42 with skipper Mitch Smith unbeaten on 21 and Kaleb McIlveen 16.
After the previous game defending 157, Greentree is feeling comfortable about the position they are in.
"They're (Souths) still a long way away from our score yet.
"We've just got to stick at it and be patient and hopefully the wickets will keep tumbling," he said.
