Jye Paterson has lauded the natural ability of the man he replaced as Bective East captain, Adam Jones, on the eve of the Bulls’ unlikely Twenty20 final against Old Boys at No.1 Oval on Friday night.
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Jones reluctantly came out of a short-lived retirement this season as the Bulls struggled for numbers, and immediately resumed his role as one of the competition’s premier batsmen.
In four innings he has scored 217 runs, at an average of 54.25, with two half-centuries and a highest score of 84.
The No.3 struck a 52-ball 74, including three sixes and seven fours, in the Bulls’ narrow T20 loss to Old Boys on January 5.
He’s a big bonus for our side – he strengthens the batting lineup a fair bit.
- Jye Paterson on Adam Jones
Paterson said: “He’s a big bonus for our side – he strengthens the batting lineup a fair bit.
“If needed, he can bowl a few handy overs through the middle period … He knows the Old Boys fellas pretty well, so he’s always handy that way – to help me out a little bit.”
Paterson is not surprised by Jones’ form: “He’s just naturally gifted … he’s never really been a big pre-season batter. He just naturally sees the ball.
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“He knows his game well enough. He knows what he has to do to get himself started. He builds an innings really well."
Bective East made the title showdown after leapfrogging Norths, Souths and City United in the final round.
Paterson said the Bulls were “very keen” and “very excited” to be in the final. “We probably deserved it. We’ve tried hard all year.”
Old Boys beat Bective in the previous T20 final. But after surrendering the premiership to Souths last season and then the one-day title to Souths this season, the T20 crown is their sole remaining piece of silverware.
The final is scheduled to start at 8pm, and will be preceded by the third-grade final between Bective and City from 5pm.
