Brett D'Oliveira admitted it was an emotional time when he scored his first half century for Worcestershire in the Rapids NatWest T20 Blast derby with Birmingham Bears at New Road on Friday.
Dolly acknowledged the applause of his team-mates and the capacity crowd after reaching the milestone off just 29 balls.
But the all-rounder also looked skywards in acknowledgement of his late father Damian, the Worcestershire player and Academy director, who passed away just over a year ago.
He would have been proud of the way Dolly junior took apart the attack of the T20 Blast holders and hit four massive sixes in the process.
Brett, who signed a new two year contract at the end of last season, said: "It has been an emotional year. That time out there in the middle was also an emotional time.
"I always give thanks to the old man (Damian) because I know he will be up there looking down on me.
"I try and do him proud every single day and I'm sure he would have loved to have watched that 50."
Although D'Oliveira was delighted to reach the half century milestone, he admits any personal pleasure was lessened because of the Bears five wicket win with three balls to spare.
He said: "Yes, it means a lot – but unfortunately it doesn't mean a lot when you don't win the game.
"Never mind, it was good to get a 50 but would have been better to get a result.
"The boys worked really hard all game. It was unfortunate we couldn't get the win, we did really well, but I thought Rikki Clarke, hats off to him, played a great knock and we just have to move on.
"There are always things we can improve on. I'm sure we will sit down and reflect on those things.
"But we didn't do much wrong and, like I say, we've got to praise Rikki Clarke and say what a great knock."
D'Oliveira's maiden 50 followed on from him regaining his spot in the county's LV = County Championship side in the win over Hampshire at New Road.
He battled away in Worcestershire's only innings to make a determined 19 and impressed with the ball with figures of 1-36 from 18 overs.
D'Oliveira said: "It's been going well this year with the bat and the ball. I've been doing quite well in the second team and I'm just enjoying my cricket at the moment.
"If I can keep doing that then I'll go a bit further in the game, fingers crossed.
"I want to play all formats for Worcestershire County Cricket Club and if I can do that and win games of cricket for them, that will be even better."
