Kamau Leverock produced a magnificent all-round display to guide holders Warwick to a comfortable 139-run win against challengers PHC in the opening round of the Western Counties at White Hill Field on Saturday.

Playing in Warwick colours in the competition for the first time, the star player stroked a typically aggressive century (101) and then claimed three wickets bowling off spin to leave no doubt who would walk away with man-of-the-match honours.

“Kamau played very well today,” Lorenzo Tucker, the Warwick coach and president, told The Royal Gazette.

“He paced the innings, which was very important for us because we haven’t played any cricket in three weeks and then he bowled really well when JJ Nel got after us.

“Kamau was really good today and there was also some other guys put their hand up and stood up today, which was very pleasing.”

Leverock blasted eight sixes and five boundaries in his whirlwind 79-ball innings. He reached his fifty, off 49 balls, in 91 minutes after flicking Kezie Richardson down the legside and scampering through for a comfortable single.

Leverock was dropped by Sage Carter on the long leg boundary off Richardson’s very next delivery and made the most of his reprieve as he went on to score a century, which he reached in style after smashing off spinner Carter straight down the ground for six.

Carter finally got his man with his next delivery after Leverock was grabbed by Davin Dill at slip.

Leverock dominated a 118-run fourth-wicket partnership with Jamar Stovel (25) that laid the foundation for Warwick’s massive total after they were sent into bat by a PHC side missing several regulars from their squad.

Warwick received good contributions throughout their order, with wicketkeeper Ajani Lee (52 not out), Malachi Jones (40), Kevon Fubler (34) and Luke Fulton (17) also spending significant time at the crease.

Jones and Fulton shared in a 61-run opening partnership to get Warwick off to a good start before Carter picked up three wickets in quick succession to peg the holders back.

Fulton was the first to go, trapped in front when sweeping across the line. Jones then spooned an easy catch to PHC captain Charles Trott at mid on before Tre Manders (4) played around a delivery and was bowled.

Lee and Fubler kept PHC toiling in the field after Leverock departed, adding 84 runs for the sixth wicket with some brilliant stroke play and excellent running between the stumps.

After being dropped twice, Lee reached a maiden fifty in the competition off 48 balls in 67 minutes in style after dispatching Nel to the long off boundary for four. He hammered two sixes and four boundaries during his unbeaten knock as Warwick posted 328 for seven in their allotted 50 overs.

“Ajani batted well with determination and he played the game correctly, so I was very pleased to see that,” Tucker said. “If you get runs from the wicketkeeper spot you’ve got a good thing going.”

Second-change bowler Carter led the PHC attack with four for 63 while Dill chipped in with two for 14. PHC were costly in the field as they leaked 47 in extras, including 38 wides.

Having done the damage with the bat, Leverock would also play a huge factor with the ball as he claimed three for 52.

The second-change bowler took a return catch off his own bowling to dismiss Dill (3) to open his account before having PHC’s top scorer Nel (81) caught by Fubler at long on and Trott (16) caught by Jade Darrell at mid off.

South African Nel, whose 78-ball knock contained five sixes and four boundaries, held PHC’s innings together with some excellent stroke play.

His fifty came off 46 balls in 66 minutes with a single off Leverock and he also featured in a team-high 67-run third-wicket partnership with Carter (29).

However, once Nel became the sixth wicket to fall the end would be swift for PHC as their remaining wickets tumbled for 21 runs in the space of nine overs.

Ori Wilson (18) and Koshun Durrant (15) were the remaining PHC batters making starts at the crease.

Warwick will now face Southampton Rangers in the second round at the same venue on July 11.