Jamie How holds the record for the top three scores in the one-day Ford Trophy competition.
Lift the lid of pressure on sports and almost instantaneously the players start speaking a familiar dialect.
"I think it's a case of enjoying the last month of cricket," says opening batsman Jamie How after spearheading the Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags to a 217-run victory in New Plymouth on Saturday in the opening round of the one-day competition.
"There's some sort of pressure off you a little bit, I suppose, so I'm enjoying it ... and it's good for the team."
The 33-year-old from Manawatu, who will retire from domestic cricket at the end of the one-day Ford Trophy campaign, scored a belligerent 177 from 99 balls, including 14 sixes and just as many boundaries at the Pukekura Park, as CD amassed 405 in 50 overs with Marty Kain run out on the final ball of the innings.
It was the highest score posted at the picturesque venue and the second time CD had surpassed the 400 mark in a limited-overs match.
As individual milestones go, the former Black Caps cricketer claims the bragging rights to the top three all-time domestic one-day scores.
Saturday's knock, with his ton coming off 61 balls as the third fastest in the competition's history, sits below the 222 he carved up two summers ago at Seddon Park, Hamilton. It was his fifth domestic one-day century.
His 156 runs against the Auckland Aces last summer is the third highest competition score. Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum holds the record for the fastest ton and How the second fastest.
Unquestionably the nice guy of cricket, the former CD skipper prefers to see his contribution in light of the collective goal.
"It was one of those games where everything came right - one where you can sit back to reflect on a complete performance."
Fellow George Worker ticked over a run a ball for 71 in a first-wicket stand of 170, while No 7 Doug Bracewell delivered on a pre-match reflection of a "lean patch" with the bat with a don't-argue 78 off 34 deliveries, after missing out on starting XI to Neil Wagner for the first test against Sri Lanka in Christchurch.
"Georgie played his role and Dougie finished it off," he says of Bracewell who eclipsed his previous best of 55 in the format.
"Milney [Adam Milne] and Doug are bowlers of quality while the others chipped in," he says of the Black Caps pair who spearheaded the bowling attack to stifle the Kings for 188 runs, all out in 29.1 overs.
Milne, at first change, took 4-48 from 8 overs despite opener Henry Nicholl's show of defiance while Bracewell claimed 2-49 from 7 overs.
However, Bracewell' s opening partner, Seth Rance, was the most frugal with his swing, taking 2-20 off 5.1 overs.
But How hastens to add it is the opening encounter, so finding a respectable level of continuity in the campaign is vital.
"We started well last [summer] as well and then we trailed off so we want to replicate that first game and put a tick in the right column."
Milne, in accordance with Black Caps coach Mike Hesson's edict of managing bowlers' workload, isn't available for tomorrow's game at Pukekura Park against Northern Districts Knights.
A question mark remains over Bracewell who should be in the equation for the second test against Sri Lanka in Wellington from Saturday but also is in the mould of whether Hesson wants him champing at the bit.
"We'll just have to see how people scrub up," How says, mindful ND are a good side despite losing their opening game by 222 runs to the Otago Volts at Molyneux Park, Alexandra.
At Eden Park outer oval, opener Martin Guptill provided the platform for the Aces, batting almost 40 overs for his 111 in their 193-run victory over the Wellington Firebirds.
In other round two games tomorrow, the Volts play the Firebirds in Queenstown while the Aces host the Kings at Eden Park.
• Despite 32 sixes on the park on Saturday, no fans were able to wrap their mitts around the elusive white ball for the $2000 prize, according to the wife of CD team naming sponsors, Rosemary Pennent.
It will be up for grabs tomorrow as well as in Nelson, against the Firebirds on Januray 5.