DORSET’S Chris Jones continued his rapid rise with a stunning century for Somerset against Australia in a match he never expected to play in.

The 22-year-old, who was raised in Broadstone, came in for the injured Alviro Petersen and wowed the 7,000-plus crowd at Taunton with 130 runs from 239 balls.

Jones, an ex-pupil at Poole Grammar School, was the unlikely mainstay of two century partnerships, clocking up 170 with Nick Compton (81) before totalling a further 119 alongside James Hildreth (66).

It was the former Corfe Mullen, Poole and Bashley batsman’s maiden first-class century and featured no fewer than 21 fours and two sixes to leave the tourists terrified at the County Ground.

Jones’s previous best had been the 69 he scored for Durham MCCU against Yorkshire in 2011 but this latest knock capped a memorable week for the former England under-17 cricketer.

The in-form batsman also found out he had passed his degree in economics at Durham University with first-class honours and has been left bewildered by the past seven days.

Jones told Somerset’s website: “It feels almost surreal. To say it hasn’t sunk in yet is an understatement.

“You can safely say this is a week I will never forget. It was the stuff of dreams as far as I am concerned. I can’t say more than that.”

The sensational stand came fewer than 12 months after Jones set three Minor Counties records for Dorset with totals of 175 and 188, the competition’s two biggest centuries, against Shropshire in July last year.

His haul of 363 across two innings was also the highest aggregate score in the championship and Jones became the first batsman to score more than 150 twice in a match.

His third-wicket stand of 240 alongside Aaron Williams that day was also a record for Dorset.