A thousand runs in a first-class season, a double ton and three centuries. All of that and Jeet Raval still has an innings to go in the New Zealand first-class summer of 2015/16.

It’s a season record worthy of praise in anyone’s book but the modest opener is the kind of player who very rarely praises himself. Raval like many of his teammates would much rather speak of other people’s achievements and the contributions they’ve made to the Mondiale Aces Plunket Shield winning campaign. In a season of wide ranging milestones for the Auckland side, Raval has been particularly impressive in the way he’s been able to pick himself up from a tough run of form with the red and white ball.

After starting the season with a bang for New Zealand A against the touring Sri Lanka A side and in his opening match for the Mondiale Aces the 27-year-old went through a difficult spell with the bat. Raval struggled in white ball cricket and produced a thin run of scores. But thanks to a tireless effort in the nets featuring many a throw down and side arm as well as hard work with Suburbs New Lynn he’s been able to get back on top in 2016. Late February was a breakout spell for Raval when he was able for first notch an incredibly hard fought century and then double century against Otago. The clear relief at reaching the century milestone can be seen in Raval’s celebration here.

Two more centuries have followed since then as well as scores of 90 and 47 as Raval has pushed his way past the special mark of 1000 runs in a first-class season. Raval still potentially has an innings to play in the season and currently sits on 770 runs for his Plunket Shield campaign. Stacking up the runs is nothing new for Raval who banged on the door of higher selection with an impressive run in last season’s Plunket Shield where he piled up 876 runs. The fourth most by an Auckland player in a season. His 202 not out against Otago is also his second first-class double century. Raval currently sits on 4902 total first-class runs with 14 hundreds and 22 half-centuries.

Jeet Raval’s 2015/16 first-class season-

New Zealand A v Sri Lanka A – Hagley Oval – 17 October 2015 to 20th October 2015

152, 11

New Zealand A v Sri Lanka A – Bert Sutcliffe Oval – 24 October 2015 to 26th October 2015

65, 8*

Auckland v Northern Districts – Eden Park Outer Oval – 17 December to 20 December 2015

89, 3

Auckland v Canterbury – Hagley Oval – 5 February to 8 February 2016

4, 0

Auckland v Wellington – Colin Maiden Park – 13 February to 16 February 2016

7

Auckland v Otago – Eden Park Outer Oval – 20 February to 23 February 2016

10, 202*

Listen to Jeet Raval on his second double ton below.

You can watch Raval reach the milestones against Otago here.

Auckland v Central Districts – Eden Park Outer Oval – 8 March to 11 March 2016

21, 139

Auckland v Otago – University Oval – 15 March to 18 March 2016

0, 47

Auckland v Wellington – Basin Reserve – 23 March to 26 March 2016

11, 90

Auckland v Central Districts – McLean Park – 30 March to 2 April 2016

147, *

Jeet Raval’s career statistics can be viewed here.