WHEN 14-year-old Rupert Begg was asked to open the batting in presidents cup for the first time, his goal to set a foundation for his team-mates.
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He did that and a whole more as he crafted a brilliant 168-run knock at Cubis Oval.
Begg's effort helped St Pat's Old Boys White to an imposing 9-410 at stumps on day one of their two-dayer against Bathurst Bushrangers.
It was the best knock in presidents cup since Ben Mitchell blasted 221 in season 2015-16, it took Begg's tally of runs in the competition this season to 318 and boosted his average at 106.
But it was not just the numbers which made Begg's innings special, it was the cricketing nous he displayed along the way.
He paced his innings well, he scored freely on both the off and on-side, down the ground and behind the wicket with late cuts. He mixed 28 boundaries and a six with plenty of singles and he was able to maintain his concentration to push on after reaching triple figures.
"I'm not a slogger, I prefer to hit through the field than over it, that six just happened to be that a spinner dropped one short and I dispatched it over square leg," he said.
"I knew that there were runs out there for me that day, but I never thought I'd get a score like that, I'd never gotten a score over 70 before, to keep going like that was really special.
"After I reached 100 I was just in the moment, just focussing on the next ball, just waiting to see where it would come and where I could hit it."
Begg has been playing cricket "Since I could hold a bat", and has been part of Bathurst District Junior Cricket Association representative sides.
This season is his first playing in a senior competition and he's relished the challenge. Prior to Saturday's brilliant knock he'd also scored an unbeaten 38, a 49 and a 50 and been part of a 99-run third wicket partnership with Nash Hutchings.
The 6'1 talent also bowls.
"I've found it a nice challenge, it's definitely helped me progress in the game as I've had to bowl different line and lengths," he said.
"In under 14s, which I am used to playing, a lot of the batsmen are a very similar height whereas when you get into presidents cup, you'll come up against guys who are a lot taller. That includes bowlers as well, they get a lot more bounce."
Asked to open the batting for the first time on Saturday, Begg learned from two of the more experienced Saints in Shane Broes (77 not out) and Scott Traves (25) as he built his innings.
"I was batting at three, but five minutes before the first ball we found out that our other opener wasn't going to rock up and so I got the kick up the order," he said.
"My first goal was to just lay a good foundation for the rest of the team so I was pretty conservative against the openers, I probably struck around 85 in the first 10 overs I was out there.
"Then after that I tried to take it to the change bowlers and take the pressure off the other batsmen.
"Broesy is a really good mentor, he was out of there for a lot of my innings on Saturday. He's coached me since district 12s and has been great. Travesy was great to open with, he took the pressure off. He knows how to bat, he just swings and it pays off for him."
