On a slow outfield at Scots School Albury, Sharp hit 14 of the 17 boundaries, as well as two 6s, as the home team was bowled out for 201 from 74.5 overs.

Brett Davies was the next highest with 19.

“If I had to pick a batsman in the comp I wanted in my side Matt Sharp’s the man out of anyone else,” Lavington coach Robbie Mackinlay said.

“He’s like an Allan Border, he’s a very tough cricketer, he’s a left-hander and he’s got great concentration.

“Matt just loves batting, and he’s a good leaver of the ball.”

It was Sharp’s first century in around five years since he was playing for Benalla Violet Town United.

Scots is a small ground, but Sharp says the slowness of the outfield added to his satisfaction.

“That’s probably why it meant a lot yesterday, it was good, I definitely could have given it away, but stuck in,” he said.

Sharp was dropped on 49.

“The wicket was a bit slow and it was really hot as well, so to carry your bat in those conditions was a really good test of your concentration,” Tallangatta co-coach Matt Armstrong said.

Lavington’s total, on paper, looks under-par, but Armstrong actually says it’s more than competitive.

“I’d add another 50 runs to that the way the outfield was,” he said.

“It’s a real short boundary, but with the grass like that, you might even add a 75 or an 80.

“Because the boundary is so short, you don’t have to get much of it and you’ll hit it for six, so you’ll probably see more sixes than fours hit on that ground.”

Sharp and great mate Sam Harris combined in the only sizeable stand – 56 for the fourth wicket – but if the Panthers lose on day two, they’ll look back on their batting.

“We left five overs in the shed so we would like to have seen maybe a bit more from the other batsmen,” Mackinlay said.

“We probably didn’t bat well enough around Matt.”

The Bushies shared their wickets, with former Indian under 19 squad member Sahib Malhotra picking up 2-67.

He started with medium-pace in his first stint, but then bowled leg-spin in his second spell.

“He bowled pretty well, we dropped a couple of catches which didn’t help,” Armstrong said.

“His leg-spin was very exciting actually, it came through at shoulder height sometimes, so he was very difficult to play.”

In an interesting sidenote, Tallangatta batted two overs with brothers David and Fraser Bremner opening.

Lavington started its attack also with two brothers, Ryan and Nathan Brown.

The Bushies head into day two desperate to arrest a form slump.

The club won its first seven games, but has since won only one of five to drop to sixth.