Friday, March 29, 2024

Jones-ing

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First, the heavens opened up, then Aaron Jones did likewise on Nicholls Baking Combermere’s bowling attack yesterday to help Christ Church Foundation retain their Barbados Cricket Association Under-19 Schools’ cricket title.
In a match at?Kensington Oval which was initially reduced to 32 overs following heavy morning showers, Foundation, who were sent in to bat after losing the toss, amassed 164 for six from 30 overs by the time the 3:20 p.m. cut-off time arrived.
In their turn at the crease, Combermere could only muster 148 for seven, handing their opponents victory by 16 runs.
The day belonged to Jones, though, with the diminutive right-handed batsman heating up the damp Oval outfield during his hour-long stay at the crease, clouting five fours and five sixes on his way to scoring 66 off just 46 balls.
In an interview with WEEKENDSPORT shortly after his team achieved victory, coach Nhamo Winn had nothing but praise for his young charge.
“Aaron is a very promising cricketer, and his innings today was the turning point of the game for us,” Winn said.
“Once he follows the right programme and gets the right guidance, he is definitely one for the future.”
However, despite Jones’ heroics, Winn attributed his team’s success to the high level of unity within the squad.
“We preach discipline and we preach unity, and all of the guys went out there and displayed what we have been working so hard on over the past year.”
Sporting his trademark cornrows, Jones walked to the middle with his team on 61 for two in the 15th over, following the dismissals of openers Micah Howard, for 10, and Shomari Davis, who contributed 31.
His nerves were evident early on, as he started tentatively, requiring 15 balls before getting off the mark.
But once he brushed aside those jitters, Jones continued from where he left off in the recently concluded Regional Under-19 tournament in St Kitts, where he was Barbados’ best batsman, scoring 286 runs at an average of 40.86.
Jones started his assault on medium pacer Davon Goodman, dispatching him over midwicket for his first six, before cutting him to the point boundary for four off the very next ball as the score progressed to 89 for two in the 21st over.
He found a good partner in Lee-Germon Gaskin, who sensibly rotated the strike, picking up the occasional boundary when a loose delivery came along.
The pair added 55 before Gaskin was lbw as he attempted to sweep left-arm spinner Matthew Jones, to be out for a solid 28.
Aaron Jones was on a rampage now and pacer Shamar Springer, in a second spell from the Malcolm Marshall End, was lifted straight over his head for six.
He brought up his 50 with a single into the offside, before blazing fast bowler Keon Harding, who had replaced Springer, for consecutive sixes over long off and extra cover.
By the time he was dismissed with the score on 155 for four in the 29th over, the damage had already been done.
Combermere started their chase disastrously when Shane Proverbs was run out by a direct throw from extra cover by Jones, to leave them four for one.
And despite some good starts from Jonathan Drakes (24), Nathan Mayers (20) and Matthew Jones (20), they never really got going. They lost three wickets for 22 runs, which really helped to derail their innings as they slumped to 98 for six before Ian Boyce (25 out) brought a measure of respectability to the final total.

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