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Teenage all-rounder Malachi Jones has been put forward by his coach as the season MVP.

Southampton Rangers swept all before them in a season of uninterrupted success.

And coach Clevie Wade believes all his players should share the MVP award.

But he said if he had to single one player out it would be the youngster Jones who has emerged as a frontline fast bowler and national team contender.

The 18-year-old took another two wickets as Rangers completed the clean sweep on Sunday adding the Knockout Cup to their Premier Division, Two-day Premier and BELCO Cup victories.

And Wade believes the youngster has come on in leaps and bounds over the course of the season.

"Last year he was a youngster coming through the ranks. But he has worked really hard on his game in the off-season and we have seen the results.

"He is bowling much quicker, his work-rate is much higher, and he is more focused on his game.

"He has had a great season with the ball and with the bat."

Jones was made captain for the two-day games, travelled with the under-19s as vice-captain on the Barbados trip, won his Cup Match debut for Somerset and was selected for the national squad which won the America's Cup in Canada.

"He is going from strength to strength and he is seeing the rewards of the hard work he has put in.

"I would say my whole team is MVP but this youngster deserves his credit. He's got wickets, he's got runs and he is maturing into a fine player."

Wade said no one in the league had been able to match the consistency and commitment of his team over the course of the season.

"My players were more focused than other teams. We went into each match with a game-plan. Our preparation was much better than some other teams."

He said Social Club had been their toughest challengers and deserved more credit than they had received or a fantastic season.[[In-content Ad]]

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