Playing with a maturity belying his tender years, Delray Rawlins, the St George’s colt, made a dream start to his Cup Match career at Somerset Cricket Club.

The teenaged all-rounder repaid the St George’s selectors for choosing him this year over several senior players, stroking a polished, unbeaten half-century, claiming two wickets with his left-arm spin and taking a catch in the deep off the bowling of George O’Brien.

“It is like a dream debut,” said Rawlins, 16, who had been a reserve for the past two years. “I could not sleep last night, I am not even going to lie. But they were good nerves; just anxious to get to the field and I am happy that when I got here I was able to perform and did what I had to do.”

Batting at No 7, Rawlins thumped an aggressive 55 not out from 58 balls that included seven fours and a two sixes.

Along with century-maker OJ Pitcher, Rawlins added 104 runs in a sixth-wicket partnership that first eased St George’s anxieties and then laid the foundation for a challenging 274 for seven declared.

Rawlins seemed unfazed by the enormity of the occasion when he strolled out to the crease and dug in.

“Everyone wants to perform on their Cup Match debut and so it was a good experience — especially facing Malachi Jones,” Rawlins said. “Somerset have a good team, so playing against them was a good experience for me.”

The youngster dedicated his maiden Cup Match fifty to his family. “When I reached my half-century, I thought about my family who I have dedicated this cricket season to — making Cup Match and all that,” he said.

After impressing with the bat, Rawlins also held his own with the ball. He claimed his maiden Cup Match scalp after having Tre Manders caught in the deep by Lionel Cann for 66 and struck again after Jordan DeSilva was caught at leg gully by O’Brien.

At close of play, Rawlins’s figures read two for 44 off 11 overs with two maidens.

“That was good,” the teenager said with a grin. “I got a bit unlucky sometimes. But that’s how it goes sometimes and you just have to keep picking away at them.”

For added measure, Rawlins caught Jones on the long-leg boundary to cap a day that he will cherish for ever.