Tuggeranong were skittled for just 77 on a lively pitch before Wests/UC held their nerve to record its third straight win to start its Gallop Cup 50-over title defence.

Oakley is in his ninth season with Wests/UC, but wasn't sure he would be able to start the season after having elbow surgery in the off-season.

He has focused on having more of a back-up role in his club's pace attack and using his experience to assist the young fast bowlers coming through.

"The surgeon said three to six months I should be able to have a light trundle, so I did that in the T20 and it feels alright," Oakley said.

"I'm not bowling anywhere near the pace I once did, but it's about bowling line and length.

"A little challenge I've set myself is to take a back seat with the pace attack and help the young fellas out with their plans and go about trying to hit lines and lengths and bowl as tight as I can."

Oakley – who played for the ACT Comets for several years and had a short stint with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash – showed he is still effective, taking three wickets.

Wests/UC never looked entirely comfortable in their run chase, but did enough to maintain their perfect record in the one-day competition.

"Chasing small targets like that, you're never comfortable," Oakley said.

"You're always a bit wary and we never put that one partnership together that would have got us home.

"It was always just losing that wicket at times we shouldn't have and it made it a tricky chase."

Meanwhile, English import Joe Ashmore took 5-40 as Eastlake had a comfortable eight-wicket win against Queanbeyan at Freebody Oval.

Former ANU captain Mark Bennett made an immediate impact with his new club, belting 151 for Weston Creek Molonglo (5-260) in an 18-run win against Ginninderra (8-242) at Kippax.

North Canberra Gungahlin (9-179) pulled out a thrilling three-run victory against ANU at ANU North, Andrew Glover taking 5-34.

ACT Premier Cricket: Eastlake 2-150 bt Queanbeyan 146 by eight wickets at Freebody Oval. Wests/UC 6-81 bt Tuggeranong 77 by four wickets at Jamison Oval. Weston Creek Molonglo 5-260 bt Ginninderra 8-242 by 18 runs at Kippax. North Canberra Gungahlin 9-179 bt ANU 176 by three runs at ANU North.