Jonathan Bairstow’s undoubted talent made it almost inevitabe that it would happen sooner rather than later.

But, even in his wildest dreams, it is hard to imagine that he would have dared think that his maiden first-class century would be quite as good as it was.

Thursday, May 5 2011 is certainly a date he will never want to forget.

Having begun it looking to reach three figures for the first time in his career, he ended it with a career-best score of 205 to put Yorkshire in control of their LV=County Championship match with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

“I was delighted to get the hundred,” admitted the youngster after his achievement.

“To then go and make it a double hundred makes it really special.”

It was a remarkable innings from the 21-year-old, who could have been forgiven a degree of self doubt as he strode out unbeaten on 50 and with the Tykes resuming day two on 291-3.

This was the 18th time he had been past the half-century mark in his short career, but any worries that he might fall short of three figures again were quickly dispelled.

Wickets fell around him, including Joe Root for 95, but Bairstow was soon into the 90s as Ajmal Shahzad joined him in the middle after the dismissals of Gerard Brophy, for nought, Bradford-born Adil Rashid, for four, and Rich Pyrah, for nine.

Two sumptuous cover drives in succession then took him to 99 before a cut to point brought about the moment he had been waiting for.

“There was without doubt a little bit of relief to get to three figures,” added Bairstow.

“It was brilliant to get it for my family and friends, and obviously my mum and sister.”

Shahzad was then ousted soon after Bairstow had passed the milestone, leaving Yorkshire on 383-8, with Ryan Sidebottom, who ended on 45 not out, then coming to the crease to continue the vital late-order support for the centurion.

Together, they added a Yorkshire record of 151 runs for the ninth wicket against Nottinghamshire, beating the previous best held by George Hirst and Wilfred Rhodes since 1899, before Bairstow was finally dismissed to make way for a Tykes declaration on 534-9.

Nottinghamshire then reached the close on 43-0 after bad light forced the players off an hour early.

It means the defending champions will resume day three 491 runs behind the Tykes, and in need of a Bairstow-type innings to get themselves back into the match.