Qureshi made a neat half-century after being called into the side with a handful of other batsmen unavailable for the match, held under lights at Dubbo’s No. 1 Oval.

Western chased down 236 for victory with Nathan Rosser and Ian Redpath also hitting 50s in the face of a quality attack that included former NSW quick Don Nash and West Indian Test ace Pedro Collins.

While Qureshi’s returns with Rugby in the Commonwealth Bank Cup have been solid if unspectacular, the knock was a clear indicator that the left-hander is still a force to be reckoned with, having called time on his stint with Hawkesbury in the Sydney first grade competition.

“It felt pretty good to get runs in a game like that, I was a bit unsure on how I was hitting them after all the rain we’ve had,” he said.

“Pedro Collins is obviously quality and I can still remember Don Nash getting rid of me on my debut in first grade in Sydney so I was a bit nervous early on. I didn’t hit them too bad, though I probably should have been out early on when I gave a chance.

“I was asked whether I could play the final in Wollongong but I won’t be able to due to work commitments.”

Qureshi has enjoyed the shift back to country cricket after his tenure with Hawkesbury, the obvious drawcard being the opportunity to play alongside his brothers Imran and Yousuf with the Bulldogs. The adjustment back to a lower overall standard hasn’t been as easy as you might expect though. “It has been a pretty big chance, I’ve found it hard adjusting to the wickets back here,” he said.

“I’m not a big hitter of the ball – I don’t really slog it much so I have to rely on timing and using the pace of the ball, and with the pitches being a bit slower and slower around here, that has been difficult. I’m loving it though, it is great fun.