Standing in as captain for the injured Shane Watson, Rohrer’s unbeaten 63 was a brilliant captain’s knock, lifting the electric greens to what turned out to be an unassailable total of 6-200 off their 20 overs in the opening Big Bash League warm-up clash at Wade Park.

Hong Kong went about chasing that total quickly through opener Nizakat Khan, but the wicket of the big-hitting all-rounder dried up the runs severely for the visitors.

The affiliate nation finished at 7-141, with Rohrer again the stand-out for the Thunder, this time in the field with a stunning pick-up, and direct-hit run-out from short cover.

The last time Rohrer played in Orange, he dropped a catch and broke his finger, resulting in an overnight stay at the Orange base Hospital in 2012.

Naturally, he was far happier with Sunday’s performance.

“I feel like I’ve been playing well all year without much of an opportunity,” Rohrer said after the first game.

“It’s nice to continue that form leading into a big tournament, hopefully that bodes well for me and the Thunder over the next six weeks.”

With a touch of juice in the Wade Park wicket early, spinner Nadeem Ahmed struck with the wicket of Kurtis Patterson (1).

Aiden Blizzard (26) and Eoin Morgan (30) both fired for the enthusiastic crowd, one six from the England skipper clearing the old greyhound shed at Wade Park.

Both failed to turn positive starts into big innings though, leaving young gun Jake Doran (30) and Rohrer to keep the scoreboard ticking along mid-innings before a late 50 run partnership off just 19 balls between Rohrer and Chris Green (24) cannoned the defending BBL champions to 6-200.

For Hong Kong, Kyle Christie bowled well, taking 2-38 including the big wicket of Morgan.

While, in a run chase that started promisingly thanks to 25 from Nizakat, 34 from skipper Babar Hayat was the stand-out innings, one that stalled thanks to a couple of run outs mid-innings.

Rohrer said Wade Park reminded him of playing at the Adelaide Oval, with the ground’s shorter square boundaries.

While the healthy crowd was vocal enough to remind the Twenty20 veteran of the BBL’s furnace, at the WACA in Perth.

“The crowd is fantastic. They’re getting into us on the far side, exactly like we’ll get in Perth later in the year,” he laughed. “The wicket is in great nick too, and the outfield’s not too bad considering it has footy on it.”