UST from the way he stands at the crease to the quality of his strokeplay, particularly his drives, there is something about Berkeley schoolboy Malachi Jones that reminds you of his father Olin Jones.

The teenager upstaged players twice his age last weekend when he stroked the highest score ? 78 not out ? by a 16-year-old in the Belco Cup final to win the man-of-the-match award as Southampton Rangers retained their title with a comfortable eight-wicket win over St. David's.

Certainly the quiet and unassuming teen has the talent to become a Bermuda allrounder in the future, probably sooner rather than later. With the type of confidence probably not seen in a 16-year-old since Noel Gibbons belied his youth by scoring a half century on his debut in Cup Match and also partnering the great Garry Sobers in the double wicket competition back in the early 1970s, Jones looked a seasoned campaigner as he tore into a St. David's attack led by the highly rated George O'Brien.

O'Brien struck the helmet-less youngster twice in the chest and shoulder in a bid to unrattle him, but in the end a smiling O'Brien had to concede defeat as Jones stood up, took the punishment and still scored freely to dominate a second-wicket stand of 84 with opener Keith Wainwright. The tall youngster then added another 59 for the unbroken third wicket with Curtis Jackson as Rangers strode to a comfortable victory.

Jones earlier claimed two for 27 off eight overs, as St. David's were dismissed for just 142 after being sent in. And though Wainwright rates him more of a bowling allrounder it was the quality of the youngster's batting that will have had fans watching in admiration. A sweetly timed straight six off Mackie Crane onto the northern bank was arguably the best stroke of his innings as he stood tall and swung the bat cleanly through the line with little effort.

He got off the mark with three fours in the same over that Arthur Pitcher bowled Dion Stovell. Wainwright watched in admiration at the other end.

"From batting with him he's very aggressive and always looking for runs," said Wainwright.

"He plays very straight and anything that's loose he looks to score runs off. I think he can afford to free up because he has senior guys around him. Timing is the key for him.

"His bowling, I think, is his strongest point. He swings the ball both ways, he' s a tall boy and in the last couple of years we've had to tell him to bend his back. He had been strolling in, not realising how important it is to bend your back and follow through. I would say his bowling has come much higher than his batting. I think he's a bowling allrounder."

Added Wainwright: "He's got a very good attitude, in the mould of his father generally but slightly different and very respectful. I think he's got more of an aggressive nature in him because he's a fast bowler."

Considering the quality of the opposition at the World Cup next year, some will say that a call-up may be too early for the youngster who will still be only 17 next March.

"I would say yes ? not for the World Cup but the Americas Cup," said Wainwright.

"I think he should be invited to train (with the national squad) and be a part of the programme so that for the next time around in the ICC Trophy he would be one of the automatic choices. I can see Somerset taking him in Cup Match this year."

Rangers coach Clevie Wade has no doubts his nephew can go far in the game.

"I've been up there for eight years and when I first arrived he was just a youngster coming through and hanging around the club," recalls Wade.

"By playing in the youth leagues he has matured a lot, developing his batting and bowling. Just over the last two years he has established himself in the first team and he's come through in leaps and bounds.

"Right now he's in the under-19 national team and the next step up will be the senior squad. He just has to keep working hard and doing the things that have got him this far. I can't see any reason why, in the not-too-distant future, he shouldn't be challenging for a spot in the national team."

Added Wade: "I wouldn't say he's too young. With Bermuda being in the World Cup, they could take a couple of youngsters just for the exposure and experience. If he continues to play the way he's playing he might get that call up to go to the national squad.

"Some guys are more mature at certain ages and I feel he's ready to be pushed into the national team. He's a very balanced guy, he doesn't say much. When Janeiro (captain Janeiro Tucker) is away he leads the team, just so we can give him some exposure and responsibility."

also thinks Malachi still has some way to go to match his father. "I don't think he's ready for his father as yet, but he's not too far behind," said Wade.

"His father was a great allrounder in his prime and I can see it coming (for Malachi) if he just stays focused and does the right things. I can see him being in the class of his father in the near future. He's a tough kid and showed it today. A lot of people have heard about this Malachi Jones and the public got the chance to see him today. He batted well and bowled well.

"At Rangers we don't have too many youngsters like at St. David's and Western Stars and St. George's, but the few we have we are trying to give the opportunity to establish themselves. They just have to show the dedication and commitment and put the hard work in and they'll get rewarded. As a coach I'm willing to push the youth."

While Wade admits he intends to leave the playing to the younger players, Olin Jones says having his son playing alongside him has kept him young and enjoying playing.

"He's got all the talent in the world," says the father about his son. He'll be better than me. With all the opportunities nowadays you can go much further in cricket.

"He came up around family who was involved in cricket, Clevie and myself. And being around a mature Rangers team you tend to pick up a lot from players like 'Nero'. Ever since he was young he has been playing cricket, representing Bermuda in the squads. He's always done well."

Jones senior isn't sure if bowling or batting is Malachi's strongest point. "That's kind of hard to answer," he responds.

"He's good in both. His bowling has come along a lot this year."

Malachi will turn 17 in nine days time and still won't be old enough to vote when the World Cup comes around in nine months. So is he too young for cricket's biggest tournament. "I don't think so, I think it is a good time to take players that age," said his father.

"I was about 18 (when I first played for Bermuda). Seventeen is definitely not too young!"

Confidence was what BCB Academy Director Wendell Smith noticed as he watched the young Jones batting in the final. "I was most impressed with the level of confidence, he played with a lot of assurance, particularly when he first came in," said Smith.

"I remember he took three boundaries in that first over and that helped him on his way.

"For someone so young he played with a lot of confidence, which was a feature of his batting. And he keeps the ball on the ground a lot. He is one to watch, besides being a nippy medium pacer. I remember seeing Noel at 16 and he also played with a lot of confidence. As a youth he (Malachi) wasn't out of his depth. To Rangers' credit, although he is young, they pushed him up early in the batting."