It is with deep sorrow that South Canterbury Cricket must acknowledge the passing of another great servant of cricket early this morning. Noel was in his 93rd year but unfortunately came up short of a coveted century.
Noel played all his club cricket for Old Boys, represented South Canterbury more than 50 times and played 5 first-class matches for Canterbury.
His best first-class batting and bowling performances came in the first innings of the Plunket Shield match against Auckland in 1955-56, when he took 3 for 84 opening the bowling and then scored 15 not out at number 11.
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For South Canterbury he twice took 10 wicket bags as well as 9 five wicket+ bags in a match and is one of three people to have a hatrick at this level, part of a 13 wicket match haul against North Otago in 1954.
However, club and representative team mate Barry Rippon said the
in 1959-60 in Invercargill.
“Jack Alabaster called the team together before the start and laid down the plan for the other bowlers to keep it tight and he would take the wickets! Noel didn’t follow the plan, instead taking 5 for 63 off 30 overs, and Alabaster took none.”
Despite Noel’s efforts he was unable to prevent an innings defeat.
Noel was also part of the original Ducks and Drakes side formed in 1950 and still going strong today 70+ years later.
Noel worked as a chartered accountant in Timaru, but after playing cricket was still involved as an administrator at club and district level. Noel served as executive director of the South Canterbury Cricket Association 1996 – 1998 and was awarded life membership of the association in 1998.
He still attended AGMs and Prizegivings when his health would allow and wanted to know what was going on.
We wish to pass on our deepest condolences to all his family and friends at this sad time and leave the last words to Barry Rippon that sum up Noel’s approach to the game of cricket.
“Noel was always the perfect gentleman throughout a game, and I never ever heard him say anything bad about anyone, in fact when appealing for an lbw he was almost apologetic!”
A true gentleman of cricket.
RIP Noel
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Noel Dellow - Life Member SCCA
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Noel Dellow presenting the administrator of the Year trophy at South Canterbury Prizegiving
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The original Ducks & Drakes team 1950. Noel is back left in back row.
