WARRINGTON cricketer Rob Jones says scoring a maiden first-class century was “the best feeling of his life”.

The 20-year-old opened the batting for Lancashire in a County Championship Division One clash with leaders Middlesex last week, hitting a magnificent 106 not out in the first innings.

Playing in only his third first-class game, the former Bridgewater High School pupil carried his bat as the Red Rose county were bowled out for 259 at Old Trafford.

After Lancashire had slipped to 6-4 and then 32-5, Jones said he just wanted to do a job for the team.

However he admitted the feeling of reaching three figures in first-class cricket is one he hopes to get used to.

“It still hasn’t sunk in to be honest – it was definitely one of the best feelings of my life,” he said.

“Scoring a hundred in county cricket is just an unbelievable and special feeling. Hopefully it’s the first of many!

“What made it more special is that it helped the team fight back from the situation we were in so we put some crucial points on the board.”

In a marathon stint at the crease, Jones batted for more than six hours and faced 290 balls.

After carefully and steadily accumulating runs throughout his innings, the former England under 19s international reached his century by hitting Middlesex spinner Ollie Rayner for a huge six before celebrating in exuberant fashion.

“I was just trying to take it ball-by-ball and keep in mind what the team needed me to do,” he said.

“As I got into the 90s, I naturally got a bit nervous with it being close to my first century but I just tried to stay focused on the job.

“The six was a sweet strike though; it came right out of the middle of the bat.

“You could see what it meant to me when I saw it go over the rope; it was such a special feeling and all the emotions just came pouring out in the celebration.”

Jones, who represented Cheshire in the Minor Counties Championship earlier this season, has played 17 times for Knutsford-basted Toft in the county league’s top flight.

In that time, he’s amassed 876 runs at an average of 109.5, with a top score of 165.