‘Once I settled down,stroke-making was easy’

His shot selection in particular was precise and effective as he swept and cut for a number of boundaries. Amazingly,he didn’t hit even one boundary to the long on or long off fence.

Talking about this anomaly in his wagon wheel,he said: “I was driving through the covers. I only played to the merit of the ball. If it was there to be cut or swept,I did that,” Rai told Sportline after his 170-ball unbeaten 125. “I took my time to settle down. Delhi’s bowlers were really bowling well at that time and I had to survive a difficult period. But once I had seen that through,stroke-making was easy.”

He did the real damage to Delhi’s hope with two back-to-back century stands. With Pragat Singh — who scored a stroke-filled 97 — the stumper had a 110-run partnership for the third wicket. He and skipper Himanshu Chawla (batting on 73) have already racked up 173 runs for the unbeaten fourth wicket partnership. In all,he hit 14 fours and two sixes to take Punjab to 333 for 3 at stumps. Rai had his first real training stint in cricket at Patiala’s NICS academy and has risen through the ranks with Punjab age group teams. He was also part of the U-19 camp at the NCA.

Punjab U-19 coach,Mohnish Bali was happy with his ward’s effectiveness on the day.

“He has all the strokes in the book. But more than anything,it’s his fitness level that is his best asset. Don’t forget he is a keeper for this side too and after this he has to keep well. In a league match,he kept for two straight days and then hit 120 to get us the lead. He’s extremely fit,” he said.