The Ulladulla United product now has two one-day caps for the NSW Blues.

Today (Wednesday, October 2) he blasted what will hopefully be the first of many half-centuries for the Blues.

Both matches, one on Monday and the one today, were part of the Marsh One Day series against Western Australia at Drummoyne Oval.

Gilkes, similar to Monday's game, came in when Moises Henriques and Daniel Hughes had given the team a good platform.

Gilkes came in at number four when the Blues were 2/180 and looking to push on.

His first run today (Wednesday) was a single and he was ready to make his mark.

He then cover-drove Australian representative Marcus Stonis for a confidence-building boundary.

Gilkes is fast becoming Hughes' good luck charm.

He was out in the middle on Monday when Hughes reached his century and today was with there again when the brilliant NSW opener made another century.

Gilkes grew in confidence and then hit first two sixes as a NSW one-day player and his strike rate went up to 127.78.

He was showing everyone he belonged on this stage and a further boundary took him to 28 runs with 38 over gone but the best was to come.

Hughes was content to let Gilkes take on the attack and the plan worked.

Gilkes helped the Blues move past the 250 run mark.

Then the rising Blues passed his own personal milestone when he brought up his half-century with a classic hook-shot.

His impressive innings ended on 82 runs and he had helped put NSW in a commanding position.

His knock included four powerful sixes, seven boundaries and he only faced 51 balls.

Gilkes on Monday had limited time to impress and made 10 runs off 16 balls.

Hughes went on to make 152 and NSW posted 6-348 from its 50 overs

The Western Australians made a good start to the run chase and had 38 runs on the board without loss after six overs.

Opener Josh Philippe got the visitors off to a flyer which was exactly what they needed.

Philippe punished the NSW attack and smashed 64 runs which included three sixes and seven boundaries but then fell to Harry Conway.

The Western Australians then slumped to be 5/121 after 22 overs and the Blues were in control.

However, with the dangerous duo of Shaun Marsh and Hilton Cartwright at the crease, the Western Australians remained in the fight.

Arjun Nair spun the match well and truly in NSW's favour when he got Shaun Marsh out for 33 runs with 26 overs gone.

Ashton Agar came in next and he fought hard with Cartwright.

They put on 79 runs for the seventh wicket and then Nair dismissed Agar for 30 runs.

Nathan Coulter-Nile joined Cartwright out in the middle and they still needed 100 runs to win with just over 10 overs to go.

WA ended up being dismissed for 271 after 44.3 overs and Conway and Nair led the way with the ball for NSW with three-wicket hauls.

Hughes picked up his second match of the match award in a row.