With temperatures nudging 40 degrees, Yates fought off fatigue and heat stress to bring up his first hundred in any format in the 32nd over against the Soldiers Club Colts.

The innings was even more remarkable given Yates had come to the crease with his side in dire trouble at 2-0 with openers Mathew Higgins and Simon Hitchcock both having departed for ducks.

When Coen Durbidge fell for six the score was just 38 (31 of which had come from the bat of Yates), but together with Ben Reynolds (nine), John Stanton (13) and Peter Reynolds (nine), he lifted Cavs to a position of respectability.

Yates flew from 50 to 91 in no time but, following a drinks break, took his time to bring his up hundred by pushing singles and twos. 

A late flurry of big hitting by Yates was accompanied by a flurry of wickets for Colts, with the side bundled out for 172 in the 37th over.

Fittingly, Yates finished unbeaten on 120, having scored all but 52 of his team’s runs.

Phil Reeves proved the pick of the Colts bowlers, finishing with 4-27 from eight tidy overs.

Colts started brightly enough in their chase, racing to 52 for the loss of just two wickets.

Again it was Yates who proved the difference.

Bowling nippy medium pace, he removed Hayden Berry for a duck, danger man Kieran Burley for 24 and Neil Burley for a quick-fire 20.

Yates finished with 4-17 from his four overs to complete a memorable day and a welcome win for Cavs.

There is no local cricket this Saturday due to the Australia Day long weekend.