Moeen Ali is determined to hold on to his place as England captain Alastair Cook's opening partner through the World Cup and beyond.
Moeen hit six consecutive fours from the first six legitimate balls he faced as Sri Lanka A left-armer Vishwa Fernando conceded 25 runs in his only over.
His 21-ball half-century - and a slightly more sedate one from Cook - left England bang on course to overhaul their hosts' 198 for six in the first warm-up fixture of their Sri Lanka tour before bad light prevented them from doing so.
They nonetheless began their World Cup winter with a victory, by 56 runs on Duckworth/Lewis, as they tune up for seven one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.
Moeen, who made 56, admitted he cannot recall previously starting an innings with six successive boundaries, and he will be delighted if that new ground proves a portent for future success as Cook's opening partner right up to and through the World Cup early next year.
Cook yesterday announced Moeen would be his opening partner todayrather than Alex Hales, so the tourists could field an extra spin bowler in their top six.
Even before he took strike, Moeen had helped to vindicate that decision by claiming 3-29 after Sri Lanka A chose to bat first in a match delayed by overnight rain and reduced initially to 43 overs per side.
After then demonstrating his shot-making ability against the new ball, as he did in the West Indies last spring when he began his international career in Cook's absence, Moeen wants more.
"If everything goes all right, I'd love to open all the way through (to the World Cup)," he said. "I'd love to open for the rest of my life for England."
He has been given no assurances yet, though.
"Whatever the team needs, I'll do it," he added. "I don't look at it as a permanent job (yet); I just look at it as an opportunity."
His instant rush of six boundaries out of six is a first for him.
"I've never done that before. I've started a lot of innings (quickly). Obviously, there's days when it doesn't come off - but thankfully today was a good start,” he added.
"I didn't mean to hit six fours; I just reacted to what came down.
"There were a couple of half-volleys, a low full-toss, then the one over extra (cover) was a little bit wide."
Moeen has two one-day international fifties on his CV in just five innings so far, one in Antigua as an opener and a second down the order on his home ground at Edgbaston at the end of last summer.
"I can adapt. I can bat in all these positions," he said. "For Worcestershire, I've batted there for the last four or five years."
Moeen could hardly wait to get started when Cook told him he wanted him to open here, and Head Coach Peter Moores made it clear he was happy for him to take risks too.
"I was very excited, obviously - because it's a role I feel very comfortable in - and think I can do a good job," he said.
"When I play well, that's what I do - just go out and try to enjoy hitting the new ball.
"There are loads of gaps, over the top (as well), and I'm not afraid to do it - even if it's spinning big or whatever. If I get out, I get out.
"(Moores) just said 'Go out and enjoy it - play how you play'. Playing against Lancashire, when he was there, I've done it a couple of times."
Moeen's off-spin was less spectacular. But he did take two wickets in three balls at one stage, and he said: "I was really happy with my bowling, (even) happier with that - because, after the first couple of overs, I felt like I found my line, length and pace to bowl at these guys.
"I've been to Sri Lanka four times now. The first time I came, I was lobbing them up and they just were smashing them - so I feel like I've adapted.
"They're very good players of spin, so that was satisfying."