It was apparent to everyone in attendance at Silverwater’s Cricket Central on Tuesday that they were witnessing the making of an exceptionally special cricketer.

New South Wales batting prodigy Sam Konstas, born in 2005, offered a glimpse at the future of Australian cricket as he notched his maiden first-class century during the Blues’ Sheffield Shield contest against South Australia.

The teenager, who celebrated his 19th birthday last week, scored a career-best 152 in a coming-of-age performance that included 13 boundaries and four sixes — his previous highest score at Sheffield Shield level was 57, achieved against Queensland in March.

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Playing just his fifth first-class match, Konstas reached triple figures in 163 deliveries, passing the milestone on what was ultimately his final ball before the tea break. He celebrated with a subdued fist bump before removing his helmet and acknowledging the modest crowd, which included national selector George Bailey.

Those who have followed Konstas’ journey from Sutherland record-breaker to Under-19 World Cup champion have described him as the country’s most promising young talent — and he showed exactly why on Tuesday.

He not only rescued the Blues, but proved he’s the real deal.

“It was an amazing achievement,” Konstas said at stumps.

“Obviously it’s good to get my first one, and hopefully we’re in good stead for the next few days.”

During the post-match press conference, Bailey walked past and shot the 19-year-old a congratulatory thumbs-up. He offered one in return.

Konstas’ breakout century comes amid swirling debate surrounding the identity of Usman Khawaja’s opening partner for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While several other candidates remain ahead of him in the pecking order — Marcus Harris, Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft are more deserving of a Test call-up this summer — it won’t be long before his name pops up in the national conversation if his golden form continues.

The Blues opener was in complete control throughout Tuesday’s near-chanceless knock, the lone exception being a missed stumping from South Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey during the evening session.

He only needed 57 balls to move from fifty to his hundred, targeting South Australia’s spinners with an assortment of lofted straight drives and slog-sweeps.

The pace bowlers resorted to a bouncer barrage, but Konstas was unfazed by the bumper ploy, ducking and pulling with ease. Following one of his textbook cover drives, he held the pose with the bat over his shoulder until the Kookaburra thudded into the venue’s fencing.

Konstas batted with confidence and authority, like someone who knew they belonged at this level but was hungry for more.

He was ultimately dismissed by leg-spinner Lloyd Pope, given out caught at first slip after a wrong-un ricocheted off Carey’s gloves and flew to captain Nathan McSweeney. The youngster politely acknowledged there was no bat involved.

“I don’t think I hit it, but it happens,” he shrugged.

“That’s cricket, you get some good decisions and some bad ones. It happens.”

Konstas, who completed his HSC last year, is mentored by former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson, another Sutherland product.

“I gave him a text message (before the match), how I was feeling about my mental stuff, and he told me to keep it simple, back my plans,” Konstas said of Watson.

“He’s been an awesome support to me.”

Earlier this year, Konstas helped Australia win the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, scoring a century against the West Indies in Kimberley. He ran drinks during last year’s New Year’s fixture against South Africa at the SCG, spending a week in the Australian team’s inner sanctum.

Konstas, who meditates before each innings, calms himself between deliveries by focusing on his breathing, which clears his mind and steadies his heartbeat. Test cricket is a mental game as much as a physical one, and Konstas is already preparing himself for the challenges of the game’s longest format.

After the tea break, Konstas sprinted back onto the field, shadow batting on the pitch before teammate Josh Philippe reached the 30-yard circle.

“I just want to get my adrenaline running a bit,” he explained.

“Show a bit of dominance to the other team and say that I’m ready to play.”

The Blues, who at one stage were in a bit of trouble at 3-80, were 7-297 at stumps courtesy of Konstas’ heroics, with all-rounder Jack Edwards and spinner Tanveer Sangha unbeaten overnight.

Philippe, making his first-class debut for NSW, scored 56 in a 140-run partnership with Konstas for the fifth wicket before becoming Pope’s first victim, stumped by Carey.

Elsewhere in the Sheffield Shield, opener Marcus Harris and captain Peter Handscomb clobbered hundreds as Victoria reached 7-330 at stumps on day one against Tasmania in Melbourne, while skipper Sam Whiteman and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis also reached triple figures for Western Australia, with the hosts 7-319 against Queensland at the WACA overnight.