ADAM Jones couldn’t have finished 2014 any better.
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The dynamic Bective-East allrounder smashed a brilliant century against West Tamworth at Chaffey Park in the final round match before Christmas.
It paved the way for an 87-run win to maintain the Bulls’ third place on the first grade premiership and one day tables.
It was the perfect Christmas present for Jones too. He smacked 11 fours and seven sixes in his stay.
With Matt Everett (66) he added 126 runs for the second wicket as Bective made 250 and then dismissed west for 166, Jones taking 3-32 to boot.
“I felt really good,” Jones told The Leader after the sizzling century.
“Last night helped too,” he said of a T20 where he smacked 89 off 44 balls at No. 1 Oval.
“That gave me a lot of confidence. It’s good time in the middle.”
The centre wicket batting in the T20 is the best form of training for the more serious premiership competition. “It was great today because I’d also missed out the last few games.
“It was good to get a bit of time in the middle too and a good way to go to Christmas for us.
“We can cash in after Christmas now.”
As most players say, “it all starts after Christmas”.
“The second half of the comp is the most important,” Jones said.
“It was good to finish the year like that.
“It was good to see Matty (Everett) batting well too.
“He’s got a senior role here, not bad for an 18-year-old. He batted really well again.”
Jones is a Tamworth selector and hopes Everett, who also skippers the Bulls, takes that form into the Country Shield finals in Tamworth this week.
The teenager will not only open the batting with Adam Lole but keep wickets as well.
Tamworth tackles Robertson Burrawang in their semi final at No. 1 Oval today while Cricket Albury Wodonga Colts play Clarence River at Dick Edwards Oval.
The Grafton-based Clarence River side received a setback just before Christmas when one of their opening bowlers, Nathan Blanch, broke a finger.
It places a much bigger onus on fellow strike bowler, Brad Chard, to make some early breakthroughs.
Chard played for the Australian Under Under 19s about three seasons back.
Organisers were hoping yesterday’s rain was clearing.
If today’s semi finals are washed out Albury Wodonga and Robertson Burrawang go through to tomorrow’s Shield Final at No. 1 Oval.
