Rhodes praise for hot talent Davies
4:30pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
WORCESTERSHIRE director of cricket Steve Rhodes believes Steve Davies played the "perfect game" in the emphatic nine-wicket Friends Provident Trophy victory over Hampshire Hawks.
The 21-year-old wicketkeeper batsman helped guide the Royals to their success with a 71-ball 76, but the New Road chief was quick to point out that he also played his part behind the stumps.
The Bromsgrove-born gloveman put on a blistering 160 opening-wicket partnership with skipper Vikram Solanki, before leading the Royals home with Moeen Ali.
But Davies, who has been impressive behind the wickets all season, took four catches to help dismiss the Hawks with 209.
"Davo has struggled a little bit in the one-day games at the start of this year with the bat, but we showed faith in him, kept him at the top of the order and he batted really well," Rhodes said.
"He also had a fantastic game behind the stumps. He took two great catches. Sometimes when you're young you get one part of your game going really well, you rarely get two - it was a perfect game for him."
Rhodes was also delighted to see Simon Jones finish with a career one-day best of 5-32 and he hopes his performance will silence a few critics.
The Welshman, whose previous best was 3-19 in 2005 at Old Trafford, feels there is more to come as he looks to put his injury woes behind him.
"You could see he really enjoyed it by some of his celebrations," Rhodes said.
"Hopefully, it may take a few people off his back as people have got this perception about him from not playing and it was wonderful to see him have such a great day.
"He was gutted when he had that neck problem because he has worked really hard, is bowling well and has very good qualities with the ball. I was so pleased that he got his five wickets.
"I really do think there is more to come from him. I read a piece by Duncan Fletcher saying all the Ashes bowlers had so much to offer."
The win lifted the County to second in the FPT South/West Division with a positive run-rate and kept their hopes of a quarter-final berth alive.
"We wanted to play in a positive manner and take no prisoners and that is what happened," Rhodes added.