IL Bula
Encyclopedia
Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau (born 15 November 1921, Tubou
, Fiji
) was a Fijian
cricketer
who played nine first class matches for Fiji between 1947-48 and 1953-54. He was more commonly known by the shortened version of his name, IL Bula, derived from his initials and the third and fourth syllable of his name – his official surname is, however, the longest by any man who has played first class cricket. His name literally means "returned alive from Nankula hospital at Lakeba
island in the Lau
group".http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/columns/content/current/story/293885.html
As Fiji was not a Test nation during his time, his official games were limited to two tours of New Zealand
. Bula was a hard hitter of the ball, and was said to have scored a century
in an hour against Canterbury on his second tour in 1953-54. He also hit 22 sixes in a club match at Suva
in 1958 in which he scored 246, the highest total in domestic Fijian cricket.
.
. He shared an 80-run partnership with George Cakobau as Fiji moved to 98 for 3, but they were quickly bowled out for 143, trailing Auckland by 197. Auckland opted to bat again instead of enforcing the follow on, and added 154 before declaring
, which left Fiji to chase 332 for the victory. Bula once again made it into double figures, but was bowled
by spinner
Francis Hemmingson, and Fiji lost by 168 runs.
The next match became Fiji's first victory on tour, against Wellington, and Bula's efforts were one of the keys to the victory. Fiji had taken a 47-run lead on first innings, despite Bula scoring 1 – one of only two single-figure scores in his career. Three Wellington batsmen hit half-centuries, however, leaving Fiji 247 for the victory in a little less than a day – and after losing opener Patrick Raddock for 0, it looked difficult. But Bula added 88, lifting Fiji to 161 for 2 before they lost three wickets for no run. However, 25 from Maurice Fenn took them over the line.
The third match, against Canterbury, saw Bula hit a career highest score – in a high-scoring match, 1224 runs were hit in three days, and Bula made 183 of those, split over two innings. Fiji were set a target of 354 to win after Canterbury had amassed 421/9d
and 209/8d in their two innings, and Bula hit 120 as Fiji set about chasing that target – however, three wickets from Jack Booker set them back, and they lost by 36 runs. A loss against Otago followed, where Bula made insignificant scores, before a full-strength Auckland team were defeated by 115 runs in a good come-back – Fiji had trailed by 52 runs on first innings after Auckland declared on 181 for 8, but Bula and Harry Apted added 135 for the second wicket as Fiji posted 351/7. Set 300 to win, Auckland were bowled out by Fenn (6-94) and Isoa Logavatu (4-46).
Tubou
Tubou is a village on the Fijian island of Lakeba. One of eight villages on Lakeba, it is considered the capital of the Lau Islands, being the seat of the Vuanirewa clan, a powerful chiefly family from which Fiji's longtime Prime Minister and President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and one of Fiji's...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
) was a Fijian
Fijian cricket team
The Fiji national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Fiji in international cricket matches. They have been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1965, though their history goes back to the late 19th century....
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played nine first class matches for Fiji between 1947-48 and 1953-54. He was more commonly known by the shortened version of his name, IL Bula, derived from his initials and the third and fourth syllable of his name – his official surname is, however, the longest by any man who has played first class cricket. His name literally means "returned alive from Nankula hospital at Lakeba
Lakeba
Lakeba is an island in Fiji's Southern Lau Archipelago; the provincial capital of Lau is located here. The island is the tenth largest in Fiji, with a land area of nearly 60 square kilometers. It is fertile and well watered, and encircled by a 29-kilometer road. Its closest neighbors are Aiwa...
island in the Lau
Lau
Lau may refer to:An indigenous people that live on the Solomon Islands.People with the German/Austrian surname:* Charlie Lau, catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball* Laurence Lau , actor...
group".http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/columns/content/current/story/293885.html
As Fiji was not a Test nation during his time, his official games were limited to two tours of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Bula was a hard hitter of the ball, and was said to have scored a century
Century (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for...
in an hour against Canterbury on his second tour in 1953-54. He also hit 22 sixes in a club match at Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
in 1958 in which he scored 246, the highest total in domestic Fijian cricket.
Personal life
The Fijian/Tongan cricket star hails from the chiefly village Tubou Lakeba, Lau. Bula is the great great-grand nephew of the traditionally Tongan Prince and former self-forged Fijian chief, Enele Ma'afuEnele Ma'afu
Enele Ma'afu'otu'itonga, commonly known as Ma'afu, was a man of two kingdoms being traditionally a Tongan Prince and a self forged Fijian chief.-A Brief History:...
.
First New Zealand tour
Bula made his debut at the age of 26, batting at number three and top-scoring with 44 before he was caught off part-time bowler Verdun ScottVerdun Scott
Verdun John Scott, born 31 July 1916 and died at Devonport, New Zealand on 2 August 1980, was a sportsman who represented New Zealand in both Test cricket and rugby league. As of 2011 he is the only player to have done so.-Rugby league career:...
. He shared an 80-run partnership with George Cakobau as Fiji moved to 98 for 3, but they were quickly bowled out for 143, trailing Auckland by 197. Auckland opted to bat again instead of enforcing the follow on, and added 154 before declaring
Declaration and forfeiture
In the sport of cricket a declaration occurs when a captain declares his team's innings closed and a forfeiture is when a captain chooses to forfeit an innings. Declaration and forfeiture are covered in Law 14 of the Laws of cricket...
, which left Fiji to chase 332 for the victory. Bula once again made it into double figures, but was bowled
Bowled
Bowled is a method of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. This method of dismissal is covered by Law 30 of the Laws of cricket.A batsman is out bowled if his wicket is put down by a ball delivered by the bowler...
by spinner
Spin bowling
Spin bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. Practitioners are known as spinners or spin bowlers.-Purpose:The main aim of spin bowling is to bowl the cricket ball with rapid rotation so that when it bounces on the pitch it will deviate, thus making it difficult for the...
Francis Hemmingson, and Fiji lost by 168 runs.
The next match became Fiji's first victory on tour, against Wellington, and Bula's efforts were one of the keys to the victory. Fiji had taken a 47-run lead on first innings, despite Bula scoring 1 – one of only two single-figure scores in his career. Three Wellington batsmen hit half-centuries, however, leaving Fiji 247 for the victory in a little less than a day – and after losing opener Patrick Raddock for 0, it looked difficult. But Bula added 88, lifting Fiji to 161 for 2 before they lost three wickets for no run. However, 25 from Maurice Fenn took them over the line.
The third match, against Canterbury, saw Bula hit a career highest score – in a high-scoring match, 1224 runs were hit in three days, and Bula made 183 of those, split over two innings. Fiji were set a target of 354 to win after Canterbury had amassed 421/9d
Declaration and forfeiture
In the sport of cricket a declaration occurs when a captain declares his team's innings closed and a forfeiture is when a captain chooses to forfeit an innings. Declaration and forfeiture are covered in Law 14 of the Laws of cricket...
and 209/8d in their two innings, and Bula hit 120 as Fiji set about chasing that target – however, three wickets from Jack Booker set them back, and they lost by 36 runs. A loss against Otago followed, where Bula made insignificant scores, before a full-strength Auckland team were defeated by 115 runs in a good come-back – Fiji had trailed by 52 runs on first innings after Auckland declared on 181 for 8, but Bula and Harry Apted added 135 for the second wicket as Fiji posted 351/7. Set 300 to win, Auckland were bowled out by Fenn (6-94) and Isoa Logavatu (4-46).