It seems to be a key element of the Bective East skipper’s desire to elevate a young side aching with largely unrealised potential.

That was the approach Jones took on Saturday when Bective took the ascendancy on day one of their two-day clash against second-placed South Tamworth at Riverside 1.

It was also a day that Jones struck a 142-ball 117, his first ton of the season and an innings marked by 13 fours and a six.

Chasing their third win of the season, Bective were dismissed for 232 in the 66th over, with Tom O’Neill and Josh Crowe both claiming three wickets.

They then bowled 11 spirited overs to leave Souths at 3-37, with Lachlan Davidson, Gerhard Labuschagne and Jones each taking a wicket.

While happy his own performance, in so much as it furthered the team, and the 232 – a total he “would take any time against these guys”, he lamented the fact that more runs were not scored.

“The 100 itself is nice, but it would have been nice to put on another 50 or so [as a team] ... But [I’m] very happy to have them three for 30 odd and have 232 … extremely pleasing.”

“It’s my first hundred for the year,” he added. “It’s always nice to get that. But I just hope to contribute enough to get the win next week.”

Jones said he felt more relaxed batting on Saturday than he had in other innings this season. He wanted to be out in the middle, which “probably hasn’t been that way for a few games this year”.

He said last-placed Bective “needed” to win the match and their next two matches to have any chance of making the semi-finals.

“We haven’t done to well this year. There’s no secret to that,” he said. “We’ve got a very good opportunity next week to get another win.”