Ryan Butterworth: first Academy century of the season

The 19-year-old CFX Academy batsman Ryan Butterworth celebrated a fine batting pitch at Queens Sports Club with his team's first century of the season. He talks to CricInfo about his innings.

I'm feeling a bit stunned as well as delighted about my innings - but mostly stunned. It was quite a flat track, but hard to bat on in some ways, as the ball was rushing on to me off the pitch and turning when the spinners were bowling. Then once the second new ball was taken it was harder because it came on to the bat much more quickly and was lifting off the pitch. It was a very quick pitch.

I went in to bat with the score about 140 and we had just lost two quick wickets. I knew there were runs in that pitch. I was batting with Barney Rogers at the time and we shared quite a big partnership. I think Barney missed out - he should have got a big one as well.

I had a bad moment early on when I edged a ball from Mecury Kenny between the wicket-keeper and Mark Vermeulen. I got my first fifty off 73 balls and the next one came off 34 balls. When I was between 60 and 100 I really began to feel I was well set. I scored very quickly then. After drinks I was on 47 and it seemed no time at all before some of the guys were calling out, "Six more, six more" for my century.

I faced Heath Streak and he's obviously very good, moving the ball off the seam both ways and moving it in to me, and so did Pom Mbangwa. Kenny the off-spinner was turning it a bit, but I think he bowled too many bad balls. Ian Engelbrecht I found hard to play because the ball was coming on to the bat very quickly. Mark Vermeulen also brought the ball on to the bat quickly.

Then Heath Streak came on with the second new ball when I was on 94, which wasn't very pleasant, and there were only two wickets left as well. I thought I would go for it, and I actually got my hundred with an edge over the slips for four.

Ian Coulson was a good partner; he was keen to stay there and see me through. Our number eleven tried as well, but then I got out.

Dave Houghton just told me to play my own game and relax, and I did. I think my form is coming at the end of the season. I got 88 in the one-day game on Sunday against Matabeleland Country Districts and we won that game. I feel much more confident now, and if I play against Bangladesh I hope I get in some form there.