Teenage batsman Terryn Fray took another step up in his promising career over the weekend as the Saltus Grammar School student struck a career-best 146 not out to lead Bermuda Cricket Board's (BCB) Development XI to a crushing defeat of First Division rivals Somerset Bridge.

Over the years White Hill Field has played host to some of the most exciting and entertaining performances on the cricket pitch and, according to some observers, Fray's whirlwind knock at that venue on Saturday ranked highly on the all-time list.

The 16-year-old batsman, who represented Bermuda at this year's Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, played an innings of true class.

And Fray has set himself some lofty goals, one of which is to captain the red, blue and white of his country at the highest level.

He is a second generation cricketer behind dad Terry and uncles Lloyd and Gary and so it was always a matter of time before he too would wield a cricket bat and carry on the family name.

He might have given an indication of bigger things to come during last year's Under-19 World Cup qualifying tournament in Toronto where he scored a majestic 119 and finished as the tournament's third highest run-getter.

The right-handed opener was not as prolific at this year's Under-19 World Cup in Asia but seems to have put that behind him and returned to his best.

So what's his secret for success?

"As an opening bat I have to be patient and stay in because one of my jobs is to try and bat through the innings, which is what I did on Saturday," Fray explained this week. "My dad (Terry) was an opener as well as my uncle (Lloyd) and I kind of like the fast stuff."

Fray joined the national youth set-up as a 14-year-old with little experience, having represented Bailey's Bay in the Junior Eastern Counties competition. And with the sport suffering a shortage of genuine openers, he found himself tossed into the proverbial deep end of the pool.

"I was thrust into the opener's role and forced to face the quick stuff right from the beginning and over a period of time I've grown to like it," he grinned.

Fray's runs in his last visit to the crease came off 145 balls and included 15 boundaries. His century was the season's second and also the second ton scored against Bridge this campaign and his first at that level – an innings which he later described as his "second best".

"I would say that was my second best knock because in Canada I scored a century also and that was my first," Fray said. "That one remains closer to me even though I scored more runs in my last century."

Fray had no trouble getting on top of the Bridge bowlers once the pitch dried out and the bowlers began to stray.

"You can't always pick on the bowling because mistakes can easily be made," he said. "Some of the bowling was slack but I also faced some good balls and you have to respect the good ones."

During his stay in India with Bermuda's Under-19s earlier this year Fray and his team-mates were exposed to invaluable coaching in some of the finest cricket academies. And that experience appears to have paid off.

"When we were in India we had a chance to be coached by some of India's best coaches at the World Cricket Academy where there was always something new to learn. They taught us various aspects of the game that coaches here cannot show you," he said.

Fray is the Bermuda Cricket Board's Under-18 Development XI's current skipper and now one of the team's senior members who rates Bermuda's chances of qualifying for the 2009 Under-19 World Cup just as good as any of the Island's rivals.

"We now have a lot of new players who are learning as they go along and as a senior player it's my responsibility to try and help them along," he said. "I think by the time the qualifiers come around again a lot of the players will be mature and better."

Along with Under-18 team-mate Deunte' Darrell, who also represented Bermuda at this year's Under-19 World Cup, Fray shared in a massive 167-run fifth-wicket stand that ultimately put the match beyond Bridge's reach.

"Deunte' is doing extremely well," Fray added. "I think we are going to get better and have a stronger team for the next Under-19 World Cup qualifiers.

"We do have a large turn-out at training and the players all look forward to playing together with the Under-18s rather than with their club teams."

Fray is quick to praise coaches Andre Manders, Herbie Bascome, Gus Logie and Clevie Wade and father Terry - all individuals who have had a positive influence on his budding career.

One individual who has been in the teenager's corner from day one is father Terry who is a former Somerset Cup Match batsman.

"Terryn started out at a young age and progressed through the ranks," recalled Terry. "He was invited to train with the Under-19s when he was 14-years-old and now he's receiving good coaching from the likes of Clevie, Andre, Herbie and Gus. It has been pleasure to watch Terryn's progress and I try to give him advice. But when he's in the middle he's all by himself and so it's all up to him to try and do the right thing. And so far I think he's doing just that."