TALENTED Pears all-rounder Brett D’Oliveira smashed a career-best 202 not out just days after recording his maiden County Championship ton for the county.
The 24-year-old continued his fine start to the season by putting the Glamorgan attack to the sword as Worcestershire notched up 456-6 declared on Monday.
His latest efforts came just a week after the all-rounder celebrated his maiden first class century for the Pears when he made 128 against Essex at New Road.
D’Oliveira’s efforts means he now follows in the footsteps of his grandfather Basil and father Damian in reaching the landmark for the Pears.
Basil registered his first championship hundred for the county against Essex at New Road in May 1965.
Damian’s first ton in the competition came against Middlesex in June 1983 at the same venue.
Speaking at the end of day two in Cardiff, which saw the Pears reduce Glamorgan to 42-4 in their first innings, D’Oliveria thanked second team coach Kevin Sharp for spotting his potential to become an opening batsman.
Sharp gave D’Oliveira an opportunity in the role towards the end of the 2014 campaign and he responded with a century – 102 from 154 balls with 18 fours – in a three-day friendly with Hampshire 2nds at New Road.
“I think he saw the potential and he came up to me in a second team game and asked if I’d like to open and I said yes,” D’Oliveria said.
“Opening has its ups and downs but I am enjoying it. It is an opportunity and the team is backing me.
“It’s great to have that backing so I’ve just got to keep it up really.
“It’s more about the mental side of things, not my technique but thinking about things a bit more.
“I think in the longer format, if you take time out of the game and bat for long periods, you will score runs, so it’s just about staying at the crease.”
D’Oliveira’s fine start to the season means he currently averages 124.66 in the championship and is among the leading run scorers in the division.