BATSMEN reigned supreme on the opening day of the Douglas Cup as a debutant and one of the competition's most explosive hitters carved out unbeaten double centuries.
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Owen Chivers made an instant impression for ANU with the 19-year-old from Bowral carrying his bat for a magnificent 204 in his side's total of 8-359 declared in the match against Eastlake on Saturday.
Meanwhile, ACT Comets captain Jono Dean continued the stellar form he displayed last season, ending the day on 234 in Queanbeyan's total of 6-437 declared against Weston Creek Molonglo at Stirling Oval.
Chivers moved to the ACT for university and wasted little time in making an impact on the first-grade two-day competition. It is believed to be the highest score in ANU club history and is the first double century for Chivers, who has previously only played 50-over games.
''It's a good way to get the season started,'' Chivers said.
''I'm new to Canberra and it's the first chance to play this sort of length of cricket, so when I got to 80, I still had a lot of the day to go.
''I got a bit scratchy when I got to about 150 because we were chasing quick runs, but I'm very happy.''
ANU is in a strong position to grab first-innings points after grabbing a couple of wickets late in the day to leave Eastlake at 2-17 when it resumes next Saturday.
While a newcomer dominated proceedings at ANU North Oval, Dean didn't skip a beat in picking up where he left off last summer. His innings of 300 not out against Ginninderra in March came after he scored 51 against the West Indies in the Prime Minister's XI match, leading to a Big Bash League contract with the Adelaide Strikers.
An off-season fitness regimen ensured Dean has hit the ground running before the Comets' opening Futures League game of the season against Tasmania in Hobart, starting Monday.
''I'm feeling in pretty good nick and it's good to get a few out of the middle,'' Dean said.
''If I was to compare that innings today to the 300 last season, fitness-wise I got through the day a lot better.
''I wanted to carry on and make a big score, so it was a good day.''
Young gun Matt Condon is on the verge of a century and has put Wests/UC in a dominant position in the grand-final rematch with Tuggeranong.
Condon will resume next week on 97 with Wests/UC at 5-142 - a lead of 41 runs. Joshua Corbett was the destroyer with the ball for Wests/UC, taking 5-9.
Meanwhile, a half-century from North Canberra Gungahlin's opening batsman Chris Chellew has left its match with Ginninderra evenly poised.
Chellew top-scored with 62 in Norths' total of 280 at Kippax.