Cricket: Raval strides into batting elite

Jeet Raval (L) says batting alongside experienced players such as Gareth Hopkins was valuable as it helped him stay focused. Photo / Greg Bowker

It's hard to believe now, but Jeet Raval, who scored 256 for Auckland against Central Districts yesterday, began his representative career batting at number 11.

The 20-year-old opener batted for over 10 hours and faced 483 balls on his way to the third-highest individual score for Auckland and the third-best maiden hundred in this country. He hit 43 fours and two sixes in his marathon knock over two days.

It's a far cry from his debut as an age group representative in Gujarat, India, before he came to New Zealand with his family four years ago.

"I played under-15 and under-17 for Gujarat and when I made my debut I bowled right-arm medium-fast ... and batted at number 11," he said.

"Then one day I batted at number nine and made 21, batting all day. Next time I started as opener and got 100 for the state under-15 team and I've opened ever since."

When the family moved to New Zealand, he made a lot of runs for the Avondale College side and compiled 203 for his club, Suburbs New Lynn, who this season won the Auckland title.

Raval's parents, Ashok and Kalpana, watched him bring up his maiden first-class hundred on the Eden Park outer oval on Sunday and son Jeet had a special salute for them.

"I think they shed a few tears," he said. "They made a lot of sacrifices so that I could have the chance of a successful career and I owe them a lot."

A vegetarian, Raval made the mistake of not eating and drinking enough during his innings and suffered agonising cramp before he reached his first century. Later yesterday he strained his left groin and finished his big innings with a runner.

He never thought of throwing his wicket away when he reached three figures.

"That's why it's good to be playing alongside such experienced players as [Gareth] Hopkins and [Reece] Young. They encouraged me to stick to the game plan. I got to have a good look at the bowlers ahead of the final and it gives you confidence."

He hopes to be fully fit for the final against Central Districts in Christchurch from next Monday.

Auckland's objective in this final round-robin game is to ensure they are not beaten outright, therefore remaining top qualifiers who must be beaten outright in the final to lose the title. They have surely attained that objective by declaring at 662 for five, the highest total on the outer oval.

* Auckland's highest first-class scorers:

290 Bill Carson, v Otago, Carisbrook, 1936-37

268 Tim McIntosh, v Canterbury, Eden Park, 2007-08

256 Jeet Raval, v Central Districts, Eden Park, 2008-09

256 Sid Smith, v Canterbury, Eden Park, 1919-20

211 Merv Wallace, v Canterbury 1939-40

Raval's 256 equalled the 12th highest individual score in a domestic first-class match.

The third highest maiden first-class hundred in domestic cricket, behind Peter Fulton, 301 not out for Canterbury v Auckland, Christchurch, 2002-03, and Bill Carson (see above).