Ben Threlfall and Ryan McArdle score centuries for West Warrnambool

Threlfall's "faultless" 108 and McArdle's 106 have put the Panthers in a commanding position after day one of their Warrnambool and District Cricket Association two-day match against Port Fairy at Avery's Paddock.

The pair combined for a 201-run stand after playing-coach Alastair Templeton and emerging number three Joe Nyikos departed for ducks, which left the Panthers struggling at 2-4.

Templeton praised the pair for the way they handled the situation and the rest of their innings as they helped the Panthers set the Pirates an imposing target of 254.

"They set up our innings and it was good to see Ryan make his first division one hundred at a new club," he told The Standard.

"It is proof that the work he has been putting in is starting to work and this is his reward. We knew he was batting well and working hard and to see reward was really good.

"Benny continued his start to the season and from our point of view he is one of the standout batsman in the competition and he looks to be rolling on. He is only 23 and he has made five or six division one hundreds.

"Today was literally faultless. He didn't look in any rush and played his own game. If there was a bad ball he would hit it if it was a good one he was happy to watch it go by."

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McArdle crossed to Davidson Oval from Warrnambool and District Cricket Association rivals Wesley-CBC.

It was his highest score for season after recording tallies of eight, 14, 13, two, and 26 in his first five innings at his new club.

Threlfall adds his century to the three half-centuries he has already collected in the one-day stage of the division one season.

Templeton said his side had responded well to his pre-game messages.

"Adapting to the change in format was a big one because of the past two months of playing one-day games and we trained that way through pre-season and for the opening matches," he said.

"It was about reminding everyone in the change in format and making sure we were ready for it. We were quiet about it through week and they have been training well and everyone has been working hard.

"We didn't want to overdo it because 80 overs is a long time and we don't need to be in rush and we needed to know we had time.

"That was the main message and just to make sure our two best bats are the ones out in the middle."

Templeton said the same messages would be reinforced throughout the next week as they prepare to bowl in the two-day format.

Niahl Dwyer was the Pirates' best bowler, finishing with 3-56 from his 18 overs.

Elsewhere, Kory Howlett continued his return from a knee reconstruction with a century of his own against Wesley-CBC while Dennington is struggling on 3-8 heading into day two of its match against ladder-leaders Brierly-Christ Church.

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