Cricket: Jones enjoys big day out at the Basin

Wellington batsman Richard Jones took special pleasure from his dominant innings of 62 which helped guide the Firebirds to a five-wicket victory over Auckland in the seventh round of Shell Trophy cricket at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

Not only did it keep alive Wellington's slim hopes of reaching the top three playoffs in the cup but the runs were made against his old province Auckland.

Jones often battled for a regular place in the Auckland side, and last summer they did not require him at all.

The free-scoring Jones came to Wellington in search of a fresh start without any promises of selection, and his results have been encouraging.

"It's been fantastic. Wellington have been great to me, and I enjoy the team environment," Jones said.

"This game was pretty important to me. I had psyched myself up to do well against my old team.

"I was rapt to get some runs against them but it was a shame I wasn't there at the end."

Jones was out, bowled by left-arm spinner Mark Haslam, with Wellington just five runs away from victory after facing 107 balls, and hitting 11 boundaries.

He and Roger Twose, until now the biggest disappointment in the Wellington cup team, pushed the side toward their winning score of 158-5 from 42.3 overs with a third wicket partnership of 79 from 96 balls.

Earlier, Wellington were in some difficulty at 35-2 in the 10th over.

The right-handed Jones timed the ball superbly in hitting his booming drives, and Twose slaughtered the Auckland bowling with his 45 from 46 balls, which included a six out of the ground off Haslam.

Jones has now scored 173 runs for Wellington in the cup at an average of 34.60. However, looking at the balance of the side he may have to stand down in favour of New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming should he be fit to play Otago tomorrow, also at the Basin.

Jones' form has also been good in the Shell Trophy with 244 runs at 30.50 an innings.

After winning the toss Auckland were thwarted by some tight Wellington bowling. They never recovered from a sluggish start on a slow pitch, and made hard work of reaching 157 from 48.1 overs.

They were 22-2 after 10 overs, and 116-6 after 40, and made little impact against the Wellington bowlers headed by medium-pacer Matthew Walker. He bowled his 10 overs straight for just 16 runs.

Though Stephen Mather continues to find runs elusive he bowled pretty well in the middle in taking 3-24 from eight overs.

Wellington will select from 13 players tomorrow, with the addition to the squad of Fleming and Mayu Pasupati, who replaces an injured Paul Hitchcock.

- NZPA