Olin Jones struck a timely unbeaten 54 and then claimed three wickets for 15 runs as defending league champions Southampton Rangers got their championship hopes back on track via a 78-run victory over tenants Warwick at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Jones came to the wicket in the 21st over of the innings with Rangers in a spot of bother at 88 for the loss of six wickets and featured in two lower order partnerships that ultimately extended the match beyond Warwick?s reach.

The former Rangers skipper added 23 runs for the eighth wicket with Jason Wade (four) and another useful 39 runs for the tenth-wicket with Ryan Belboda (seven) to prolong Warwick?s frustration in the field.

Jones? unbeaten 51 ball knock contained eight fours and two sixes.

He then returned later with the ball to snare the crucial wicket of former Ranger Quinton Burch (47) and help remove Warwick?s lower order along with Jason Wade who collected two wickets without conceding a single run.

Earlier Wainwright (26) and former Warwick batsman Dion Stovell (37) staged a successful recovery after Curtis Jackson (three) departed in the second over. Together the pair produced 71 runs for the second wicket before Wainwright was gloved behind by wicketkeeper Daniel Morgan.

Wainwright hit two fours and faced 34 balls.

Stovell then departed two overs later as Warwick?s bowlers regained the upper hand. Stovell faced 61 balls and stroked four fours.

Rangers would lose their next two wickets for the addition of only ten runs as Warwick continued to tighten their grip on the proceedings, only for number seven bat Jones to stroll out to the crease and undo all of their hard work with some robust strokeplay.

Nyon Steede claimed a first five-wicket haul of the season. Steede produced superb figures of five for 36 off ten overs including a maiden.

Randy Bean and Quinton Burch took two wickets apiece to help restrict Rangers under the double century mark.

In reply Warwick could not have asked for a better start from openers Burch and Lamar Richardson (three off 38 balls) who plundered 58 runs in eight overs.

But once Jones made the crucial breakthrough by having Burch caught by Wainwright at first slip with the very first delivery he sent down during a two -over first spell, Warwick slid to 87 for five in 12 overs after losing their next four batsmen for the addition of only 29 runs to the total.

An aggressive Burch smashed eight fours and a six off 31 balls.

Jones was then reintroduced into his team?s attack in the 25th over, and he struck another telling blow when he trapped Steede in front of the stumps, without scoring, with a straighter delivery with the fourth ball of his fourth over.

The veteran allrounder then combined with Andrew Raynor ? who took a spectacular one-handed running catch at long off ? in the 27th over to dismiss Jaime Ford (0) and apply the finishing touches to a fine all round display.

Tyron Douglas (20) was the only other Warwick batsman managing double figures. Douglas hit three fours and faced 25 balls.

Also aiding Jones in the bowling department were seamers Ryan Belboda and Traddie Simpson who claimed two for 42 and two for 46 respectively.

Western Stars? disappointing season went from bad to worse at St.John?s Field yesterday where Somerset came away with a crushing 118-run triumph.

Somerset batted first and piled up a formidable total with former skipper Devon Wade leading the way with a well-played 56.

Ray Butterfield was the pick of the Stars? bowling with three for 65.

Stars fell well short in their reply, with only Jah Jah Millett offering resistance with a stubborn 23.

Shane Hollis led the Somerset bowling with two for seven of five overs including two maidens.