"First game, so I had a few nerves there. I wanted to get a couple away early and they eased back a bit. It was nice to get the three figures on debut."
The former New South Wales opener has made a huge success of his move to South Australia this summer and has regained a place in the test side as well as making his sensational ODI debut. Hughes shared a 140-run partnership for the third wicket with stand-in skipper George Bailey (89) who led his side of so-called B-graders to victory.
Australia's selectors had rested skipper Michael Clarke, opener David Warner and wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Wade for the first two matches, while Shane Watson is recovering from a calf injury.
"There's some pretty good horses left out of it so I think they'll be right," Bailey said when asked if the rested players could get back into the side.
"It was a really great team effort to stand up on the back of some criticism from outsiders and some people who weren't sure if we were up to it. Hopefully we've put those doubts to bed and the next challenge is to do it consistently and go two-nil up."
Bailey paid tribute to the work of 35-year-old gloveman Brad Haddin, recalledin Wade's absence.
"One of the challenges with the group is the lack of experience, I guess, so having someone as composed as Brad is, not only on the ground but off the ground, the way he prepares, it's something I take a lot out of," Bailey said.
-AAP
