Cricket: Jones' big hit helps smoke ND

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Richard Jones' mother likes it when her son is scoring runs. And it has nothing to do with records, end-of-season statistics or that Wellington yesterday won cricket's Shell Trophy.

No, she tells him, spending more time in the middle means less time for smoking.

"She has always been on to me about smoking," said 27-year-old Jones as he reflected on another first-class century and Wellington's first innings win over Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve.

The ND players would have been far happier if the rejected Auckland opening batsman had had more time for smoking in this virtual trophy final.

Jones and his captain, Mathew Bell, gave Wellington their second-best first wicket partnership of the season (154) as they chased the 316 they needed for first innings points which would secure the trophy.

Wellington scored the runs and took the points just before lunch and went on to their season-high 508 before Northern returned late yesterday to reach 21 without loss in their second innings, still 172 runs in arrears in a game in which interest has died.

Bell scored 64 before being caught and bowled by Grant Bradburn and took his season's tally to 844 (at 52.75). Only Robert Vance, 888 in 1988-89 - the season before Wellington last won the Shell Trophy - remains ahead of Bell in the number of runs scored in a season for Wellington.

Jones, who scored 147 before falling in the same way as Bell, is third on that list with 809.

Wellington's 10 centuries this season - Bell (5), Jones (3), Roger Twose and Stephen Mather (one each) - equals the record set in 1988-89 and 1994-95.

Jones, who had two seasons away from first-class cricket after finding himself on Auckland's "not wanted" list, has been an integral part of Wellington's success.

"When I got here and looked at their potential batting lineup, I admit I had some reservations," said Jones. "But I just wanted to get away and do something different.

"I had no problem with Auckland's reasoning. If you picked up an almanac and looked at my stats, it made pretty poor reading."

It also reveals he has been in trophy-winning sides twice before, with Auckland.

He says having Bell at the other end has been a great help.

"He is a run Machine. Watching a guy score runs like he has made it easy."

Jones also paid tribute to the backing of his long-time mentor, former Wellington and New Zealand captain Barry Sinclair.

"At the times when I found it frustrating not being able to take my club form into the first-class arena, he was always encouraging me."

Jones will be back to winter over - and play club rugby for North Shore - in Auckland before returning to the capital and joining a team who for the first time in a dozen seasons have the trophy to defend.