Bermuda Under-19 vice- captain Malachi Jones was rewarded for his swashbuckling century earlier this week against School of the Nations as the curtain came down on the Sir Gary Sobers International Schools Tournament in Barbados.

Jones hammered 118 off 75 balls in a knock containing eight fours and 10 sixes to lead Bermuda to a convincing 139-run victory in their eighth and final match in the Caribbean.

The Southampton Rangers all-rounder was presented with a new cricket bat by tournament officials during yesterday's awards ceremony to commemorate being the first Bermudian batsman to achieve the milestone at the annual tournament.

"It was very nice to pick up an award on the last day of the tournament during the prize presentation," Jones said. "I think I'm going to get all of my team-mates to sign it and keep it as a souvenir."

Jones also banged a classy 81 against Xenon Academy to put an end to a lean spell with the bat last week.

"I started to think about Cup Match and Canada (Under-19 World Cup qualifiers) coming up and so I decided to concentrate a little harder and try and stay at the wicket. I always felt as though it was only a matter of time before it all came together," he said.

"But to be honest I think my innings of 81 was my best during the tournament from a batsman's point of view. My century was a very aggressive innings with 92 runs coming off boundaries which speaks for itself."

Jones and his Bermuda Under-19 team-mates return home today from the Caribbean, with the World Cup veteran scheduled to take part in Somerset's final Cup Match trial match at Somerset Cricket Club tomorrow.

"I'm definitely looking forward to trying to retain my place in the team. I intend to rest on the plane coming back, and I'll be ready for the trial," he added.

Overall, Jones said he was pleased with Bermuda's showing in Barbados where the Island's youngsters won five and lost three of their eight matches.

"Two of the games we lost we actually thought we had put it away early.

"But unfortunately we died out over the last couple of overs and allowed things to slip away from us," he added.

For their outstanding performances during the Sir Gary Sobers tournament, Jones, off spinner Tamari Tucker and skipper Rodney Trott were all chosen to represent a combined select in St. Michael's yesterday.

Jones, however, was not as fortunate with the bat this time around as he played on for a first ball duck while Trott hit 33 as their team compiled 150 all out in 37.1 overs.

Spinner Tucker never got the opportunity to bowl as the match was abandoned after four overs due to a deteriorating strip with the opposition on six for one when stumps were drawn.

Cricket update ¿ Page 24