The shot to bring up the milestone wasn't his finest moment of the day, but David Warner still signalled his hundred with his trademark leap.
For Warner, it didn't matter how he passed the hundred mark, just as long as he got there.
The 32-year-old's 15th ODI century lifted Australia to a total they would defend against a on-again off-again Pakistan team, despite a late collapse.
After 30 overs, Australia were cruising at 2/191, but failed to see out the 50 overs and were bowled out for 307.
MORE: Finch relieved after Australia edge Pakistan | Australia cling on after Warner century
Pakistan fell 41 runs short, and Australia got the win. Aaron Finch was again among the runs, while Pat Cummins and his fellow bowlers took a sigh of relief after sealing Australia's third win from four tournament starts.
However, the leading headline was always going to be man-of-the-match Warner. How he navigated past his uncomfortable start to the World Cup to fire against Pakistan, and how he finally buried 14 months of demons following the Newlands scandal that will forever tarnish his name.
Warner credited his wife Candice, who with daughters Indi Rae and Ivy Mae, were by his side through his journey back to the big time. The family is also expecting a new arrival this month.
Speaking after the match, Warner admitted he thought he'd never score another century for Australia, but the motivation of family kept his fire burning.
"The thing that kept me going was my wife and my kids. Got great support at home, my family," he said.
"My wife is just, she's just my rock. She's unbelievable. She's determined, disciplined, selfless. I hold a lot of credit to her.
"She's a strong woman. And she got me out of bed a lot in those sort of first 12 weeks, and got me back running and training hard as I could, and prepared for the other formats of the game I was playing.
"It was just to maintain my level of fitness and just hard work, and she really nailed that into me."
The Warner family went through much trauma during and after the South Africa tour. Candice was a target for the crowds, and everything was amplified when Cape Town happened.
However, the smiles have returned, Warner putting everything into the century celebration and receiving a sterling reception from teammates.
Steve Smith, who was also implicated in the Newlands saga, was smiling and applauding as his teammate grinned towards the dressing room, more proof of the wounds healing.
And despite English crowds booing the pair at every turn so far in this World Cup, the Taunton crowd rose as one for Warner.
David Warner made this young Australia fan's day by giving him his Player of the Match award after the game 🏆
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 12, 2019
Wonderful gesture 👏 #SpiritOfCricket#CWC19 pic.twitter.com/MlvDkuoW4i
As he fielded on the boundary, the Pakistan fans couldn't get enough of him.
"I think going through those tough times and sort of regrouping with myself to put myself in the best position to come back to international cricket, I did everything I could," he said.
"I really knuckled down and trained my backside off... I'm just grateful for this opportunity.
"I'm just really looking forward to what's coming ahead of us here in the World Cup. I'm pumped to be back. The boys are on fire here.
"We've got a great group harmony, a lot of smiles on the faces as you can see in a lot of the training sessions and out in the field."
Australia will now look to Saturday's match against Sri Lanka at The Oval, before a five-day break leading into a clash with Bangladesh at Trent Bridge.
While those matches won't provoke too much animosity from the stands, the run home - featuring matches against England, New Zealand and South Africa - will surely test the mettle of Warner and Smith.
Or will they?
"The boos, we don't really hear that when we're out there. At the end of the day we're out there to do a job," Warner said.
"For me, it's just trying to score runs and have a lot of energy in the field... look, it's water off a duck's back. You get it all the time. I've heard it my whole career.
"Actually, it eggs us on a lot and makes us knuckle down and try to score more runs if anything.
"What was said was said back in those press conferences. Now it's about looking forward."
