Pawson, who plays for Ginninderra, was asked to do net bowling for both teams in the lead-up to the match and came perilously close to taking out Glenn Maxwell.

“At the start he was just feeling his way and getting into it but then he tried to ramp one and kind of edged it into his jaw,” Pawson said yesterday.

“I felt a bit bad.

“He’s a genuinely good bloke.

“I was a bit worried for a second.”

The blow had little impact on the big-hitting Australian batsman, who went on to hammer a spectacular 136 from 89 balls in the Prime Minister’s XI’s 60-run loss.

In one Chris Jordan over, Maxwell went 4, 6, 4, 2, 4, 1, which saw him reach 50 off just 32 deliveries.

Pawson was impressed. “He can hit it anywhere,” he said.

Pawson has also been used as a net bowler for England and Sri Lanka in recent times.

Lavington coach Robbie Mackinlay was a room attendant for the Australian team and was blown away by Maxwell’s innings.

“His innings really vindicated the selectors willingness to have him in the World Cup squad,” Mackinlay said.

“He polarises the nation with his good and bad — but you can’t deny his ability.

“It was an innings full of pure entertainment that the crowd lapped up.”

Mackinlay was given a jumper by Maxwell.