The prodigiously talented 23-year-old came up trumps in his side’s second game against Hong Kong at Wade Park on Sunday, hitting 43 from 37 balls opening the batting for the Big Bash League champions, kicking the side’s innings off in perfect fashion.

He combined with Irish-born England skipper Eoin Morgan (42 from 25) in a 65-run second-wicket partnership, which in hindsight considering Hong Kong’s fightback, proved a decisive period as the Thunder went on to win by just 14 runs.

The partnership, just 28 minutes long, provided the 3000-strong Wade Park crowd with some of the hardest, cleanest hitting seen at the ground in many years, and the lasting memory of witnessing a proven international star and a burgeoning Australian gun in action together live.

Considering everything, an appearance in green and gold seems a matter of when, not if, for the left-handed Patterson, in all forms of the game.

He’s happy enough just scoring runs and continuing to bide his time though.

“I was starting to get a bit of rhythm, it’s quite a difference coming from five Sheffield Shield games into Big Bash cricket,” Patterson said.

“It’s a completely different mindset so it’s great to spend some time in the middle I’m just a bit disappointed I didn’t go on with it.”

After Patterson and Morgan catapulted the electric greens to 1-96 in the 12^th over – the Thunder were 3-100 after they were both dismissed in that set – Hong Kong’s attack did a sterling job to restrict the reigning BBL champions to 6-168.

Despite Nizakat Khan’s heroic, feel-good century Hong Kong fell 14 runs short of its target.

The performance was encouraging from the Hong Kong players, Patterson said, as they’d clearly learned from the 59-run loss they suffered in the opening game. The Thunder piled on 6-200 in that game.

“Hong Kong did well to tie us down in the middle overs,” Patterson said.

“We just batted superbly in the first game on a wicket which was a little bit slow and a bit poppy, but not bad by any means. It actually got better as the day went on, but we were lucky to scratch out 170-odd in the end and defend it.”

The Thunder head to Albury to play the Melbourne Stars in a double header on Wednesday, while Hong Kong plays the NSW second XI in Sydney before heading up the coast to Coffs Harbour, where they’ll play the Sydney Sixers.

“We’re really happy, (Orange) was a great hit-out for us,” Patterson said.

“There’s great facilities here in Orange and it’s much better than being in the nets, that’s for sure.

“We understand it’s a lot tougher for the people in the country to access better facilities and access to professional cricket as well, so we really enjoy coming to these areas and spending time with the locals and experiencing what these areas have to offer, on and off the field.

“We’re looking forward to getting out to another country town we’ve had a great time in Orange and we’re looking forward to playing two more games against quality opposition.

“It’s great to see a side like Hong Kong come out to these areas too. As a developing nation I’m sure they relish the chance to play strong opposition, and they can only get better by doing so.

“If their batsmen keep hitting them like [Khan] did, I’d say there’s a good chance we’ll see a few in the Big Bash before long.”