The Hillgrove skipper had been in somewhat of a run drought stretching from last season, but he looked anything but out of touch against Ex-Services last weekend.

King belted 84 in a match winning innings to lead his side to an unlikely victory after Servies had set 275 for victory in the first round of the one-day fixtures.  “I hit the ball really well,” he said.

“I was hitting the ball well last year, but I just kept finding ways to get out.

“So it was nice to go on and get a decent score.”

Hillgrove were in deep trouble at 4-72 when King entered with Michael Dawson, Matt Baillie and Matt Schaefer all dismissed and Servies’ imposing total looking out of reach.

But King immediately wrestled the momentum back in Hillgrove’s favour with his amazing whirlwind innings.

He dealt in fours and sixes, with 72 of his 84 coming from 15 fours and two sixes.

King left with the score at 6-192 with the game still in the balance, but Warwick Browne [35] and Richard Heagney [38 not out] guided them to victory.

“I was happy with how I batted, but disappointed to get out at the same time,” King said.

“I wasn’t disappointed that I didn’t get my 100, just disappointed I didn’t get us closer to the total.”

Hillgrove return this weekend to take on City at Lambert Park.

King was having none of the notion that City is less dangerous this year than in the past couple of seasons.

“I don’t think any of the sides are struggling,” he said.

“Just look at Servies, they’re last and they came out and put 275 on us.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if City came out and blew us right off the park.

“Anything can happen in a four-team competition.”