When Wellington began their last gallant charge towards first innings points in their match against Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve today, with the further and larger objective in sight of overall victory in the Shell Trophy, it was both
Steve McMorran24-Feb-2001When Wellington began their last gallant charge towards first innings points in their match against Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve today, with the further and larger objective in sight of overall victory in the Shell Trophy, it was both notable and memorable that riding in the vanguard were Richard Jones and Matthew Bell.Wellington’s surge towards those twin objectives – they were 229/1 at stumps tonight in reply to Northern’s first innings of 315 – had carried them over the outermost ramparts and left the prized field at their feet with their rivals dispersed but regrouping.Jones, in colourful, intrepid fashion, and Bell with equal gallantry had been the standard bearers in this last charge, recalling their side to the colours when they had been upset at the outset of the fray today by a rearguard action from Northern which was as dogged as it was unexpected.Finally Jones, who was 147 not out at stumps and Bell who, at 64, was among the fallen – an unfortunate casualty on this momentous day, had fully turned the tide of the battle. Jones, who hadn’t been mentioned in dispatches before this season when he transferred his first allegiance from Auckland to Wellington, had his third century in four matches but Bell had fallen not far short of his sixth in this year’s Trophy competition.Jones’ innings will continue tomorrow but his partnership with Bell, the most recent of their many substantial opening stands this season, ended today at 154 when Bell was caught and bowled by Grant Bradburn.The anger of the Wellington captain as he left the field was obvious – he had given himself neither the century he had spoken of at the very outset of the season nor the opportunity to participate tomorrow in the final affirmation of victory.Still, he had done more than his part. He had batted with great skill, patience and vigour for 200 minutes – the duration of the partnership – and he had peppered the Basin’s outer boundaries with 10 fours.By stumps Jones had batted for 278 minutes – a feat of concentration unrivalled in this match to date but far more indicative of his new and dominating personality, his discovered authority and his maturity. Jones had faced 201 balls and he had a century – his third this season and of his career, to follow his 145 against Canterbury and 188 against Otago.But the key achievement of Jones and Bell was that they had taken Wellington within sight of a first innings win which will confirm them as champions of this Shell Trophy season. It is a victory long waited for in Wellington but one typically more flavoursome for the duration of its making.And if it comes in the first or even the second sessions tomorrow – there are 87 more runs to get because Wellington were 229/1 at stumps – it will be clamorously celebrated and it will be because of Jones and Bell.It would not be unfair to paint the Wellington opening pair as ugly ducklings in first-class cricket who have grown, matured into something far more pleasing this season. Both bat from guards which defy orthodoxy and the aesthetic spirt of the game. Jones bats like a misaligned golfer with his shoulders angled between third man and midwicket and in a intense and crouching stance.Bell has learnt to bat this season in a more upright stance but with his back foot dragged outside offstump in a sprinter’s crouch.They make an odd pair but it can almost be said that in finding each other they have found themselves this season because it is through the success of their partnership that they have blossomed indivudually.Bell had his 50 today in 133 minutes as slightly the slower of the pair. Jones’ came in 117 minutes but his century arose far more spectacularly with a hooked six over backward square off Joseph Yovich in the 52nd over. He had then batted 212 minutes and faced only 145 balls.Jones played fluently, diving the ball beyond cover and extra cover, mid off and, occasionally, mid on. Bell cut and pulled – pulled mostly – and built his runs through the leg side, most notably with a stroked drive through midwicket when a bowler dared pitch on his pads.All of this activity restored the advantage in the match to Wellington though they had briefly seen that advantage lost in the final skirmishes of the morning. Northern had taken their overnight total of 247/8 on to 315, principally through a determined ninth wicket stand of 60 in 97 minutes between Robbie Hart and Graeme Aldridge.Wellington took a painfully long time to break that partnership and when they finally did so it was in a manner loudly disputed. Aldridge was adjudged, by the umpires in conference, caught and bowled by Jeetan Patel in the 122nd over when Northern was 307. But Aldridge was certain the ball had not fully carried to the bowler and he held his ground defiantly before leaving the field at a snail’s pace and with a perfect imitation of affronted sensibility.Hart was finally out for 26 – Aldridge had made 37 from 75 balls – but the target for thos vital first innings points that Northern had set before Wellington seemed formidable. Wellington’s purchase on the Trophy seemed briefly weakened.Till Jones and Bell came together and then, with the sublime confidence of two players in form and with more of the determination with which Wellington have set about all of their tasks this season, the advantage was regained.