Sam Hain claimed that acting on instinct propelled him to a match-winning half-century for Trent Rockets against Southern Brave in the tournament opener.

Hain made 63 from 39 deliveries on his Trent Rockets debut as his side made 133/8 from their 100 balls, before Brave were dismissed in a thrilling conclusion for 127 from 99 deliveries.

The right-hander’s knock continued a fine record at Trent Bridge, with his audacious reverse-scoop for six drawing particular plaudits.

“My life flashed before my eyes playing that shot!” he admitted.

“I think you’re just trying to trust your instinct as much as possible, especially in the shorter format, and my gut was saying to reverse scoop it for whatever reason.

“I firmly believe in the method I have – even though I’ve not had much exposure to hundred-ball cricket I’ve played over 100 games of T20, so there’s a method I have out there in the middle.

“I can take a lot of confidence now moving into the rest of the tournament. It’s a great group here and a place I love playing, and what a great game to start the tournament.”

Despite the 28-year-old’s strong record at the venue in white-ball cricket, he admitted to a touch of pre-match anxiety ahead of the encounter.

“I was nervous,” he said.

“I get nervous before every game, but I think it shows that you care, and want to do well.

“It’s the best cricketers in the country going toe-to-toe, it’s getting new people into the game, that’s what it’s all about.”

Hain compiled a formidable partnership with Imad Wasim (26) before the spinner went on to take two wickets in the space of nine deliveries to turn the tide of the chase in the Rockets’ favour.

And he was quick to praise the Pakistan international’s work with bat and ball.

“When you’ve got a partnership going, it can be really hard to stop,” he said.

“I got going with Imad, and when there’s two people set like that there’s not much that can stop you.

“Full credit has to go to the bowling unit as a whole as well.

“We said if we could get wickets up top and put pressure on them, they’d find it difficult to score.

“To go one from one in front of a home crowd has been cool.”