Lanes outside Kuala Lumpur ablaze yesterday.

It was not quite enough to snare Bermuda a second medal on the back of Sunday's stunning silver success, as Jones and mixed doubles partner Dianne (Bobbie) Ingham dropped from fifth to ninth overall after a rare lapse in the final game.

But Jones gave warning he'll be a serious contender when the battle for individual medals begins today.

Yesterday, a whole nation took notice as the big Bermudian, again featuring prominently on TV here and throughout the Far East, blitzed the lanes at this state-of-the-art complex housed in a huge shopping mall on the city's outskirts.

Entering the last of his eight frames, left-hander Jones, whose brilliant run down the stretch helped he and partner Conrad Lister to medal on Sunday, was averaging an unbelievable 236.43 pins per game, including a 290 which equalled his career high.

No other man in the entire field could match that, until his disappointing 185 in the last game -- the only time he dipped below 200 -- dropped his average to an even 230, fourth best on the day.

TV commentators, continually referring to Jones as "the big man from Bermuda'' tipped him as the gold medal dark horse in the singles.

Told of that comment, Jones, who prefers to let his 16-pound balls do the talking, said simply: "We'll take every game as it comes. Tomorrow's another day.'' But Bermuda coach June Dill and partner Lister agreed the TV announcers were spot on.

"He's going to roll a (perfect) 300 in this tournament,'' predicted Lister.

"He's bowling that well.'' Qualifying for tomorrow's singles final starts today between 30 men and 30 women. The top 16 advance to the final where play switches to round robin with each bowler meeting the other, and ten points at stake each time.

"Antoine's got to be in with a chance,'' said Dill. "He's shown he's capable, but it's a case of endurance and consistency.'' Yesterday, the man dubbed by his Games team-mates as "George Foreman'', demonstrated both as he hit strike after strike.

In one three-game spell, with Ingham playing a fine supporting role, Bermuda soared from 11th to third in the afternoon field, Jones hitting games of 290, 247 and 227. He had opened with a 265.

But it was a case of too little too late as the Australians, led by the brilliant Cara Honeychurch, whose 245 average bettered all the men, and partner Frank Ryan cruised to victory.

An uncharacteristically poor last game -- Jones rolled 185 and Ingham 155 -- saw Bermuda slump from fifth to ninth.

Earlier the Island team of Lister and Pitt had registered a score of 3,227 which left them in 11th place out of the 24 teams.

England took the silver and Canada the bronze.

Prison officer Lister, nicknamed `Alcatraz', believes he, too, can make the singles final. "I think we both have a great chance,'' he said. "I'm going to give it all I've got. I had an outstanding day today, although not as outstanding as Antoine but better than on Sunday.

"I've made some adjustments and I'll be ready tomorrow.'' ANTOINE JONES -- Turning a lot of heads in Kuala Lumpur with his no-nonsense bowling approach.

BOWLING BOW