I. L. Bula
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Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau (born 15 November 1921, date of death unknown) 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, I. L. Bula, derived from his initials and the third and fourth syllable of his name – his official surname is, however, the longest of any man who has played first-class cricket. His name literally means "returned alive from Nankula hospital at Lakeba island in the Lau group". As Fiji was not a Test nation during his time, his first-class matches were limited to two tours of
New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
. Bula was a hard hitter of the ball, and was said to have scored a
century A century is a period of 100 years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c. A centennial or ...
in an hour against
Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the heart of the City of Canterbury local government district of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. ...
on his second tour in 1953–54. He also hit 22 sixes in a club match at
Suva Suva () is the capital and largest city of Fiji. It is the home of the country's largest metropolitan area and serves as its major port. The city is located on the southeast coast of the island of Viti Levu, in Rewa Province, Central Divi ...
in 1958 in which he scored 246, the highest total in domestic Fijian cricket. In 2005, Bula became the first cricketer inducted into Fiji's Hall of Fame.


First New Zealand tour

Bula made his first-class debut at the age of 26 against
Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...
, batting at number three and top-scoring with 44 before he was
caught Caught is a method of dismissing a batsman in cricket. A batsman is out caught if the batsman hits the ball, from a legitimate delivery, with the bat, and the ball is caught by the bowler or a fielder before it hits the ground. If the ball h ...
off part-time bowler
Verdun Scott Verdun John Scott (31 July 1916 – 2 August 1980) was a sportsman who represented New Zealand in both Test cricket and rugby league. As of 2022 he is the only player to have done so.Coffey and Wood ''The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby L ...
. 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 Technology *Spinner (aeronautics), the aerodynamic cone at the hub of an aircraft propeller * Spinner (cell culture), laboratory equipment for cultivating plant or mammalian cells * Spinner (computing), a graphical widget in a GUI * Spinner (MIT Med ...
Francis Hemmingson Francis Hemmingson (5 September 1912 – 7 April 1963) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played eleven first-class matches for Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island o ...
, and Fiji lost by 168 runs. The next match became Fiji's first victory on tour, against
Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...
, 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 Patrick Tasman Raddock MBE (31 October 1925 – 23 May 1977) was a Fijian cricketer. Raddock was a right-handed batsman who played primarily as a wicketkeeper. Raddock made his first-class debut for Fiji in 1948 against Auckland during Fi ...
for 0, it looked difficult. Bula added 88, however, lifting Fiji to 161 for 2 before they lost three wickets for no run. However, 25 from
Maurice Fenn Maurice Joseph Fenn (5 May 1911 – 11 April 1995) was a Fijian cricketer. Fenn was a leg break googly bowler. Fenn made his first-class debut for Fiji in 1948 against Auckland during Fiji's 1947–48 tour of New Zealand, where he playe ...
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 421/9 d 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 Otago (, ; mi, Ōtākou ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government reg ...
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 Harry Joseph Apted (30 April 1925 – 8 April 2016) was a Fijian cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman who bowled slow left arm orthodox. Apted made his first-class debut for Fiji in 1948 against Auckland during Fiji's tour of New Zealand. Fr ...
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 Isoa Tuinaceva Logavatu (born 1925 at Nadi, Fiji; died 1991 in Fiji) was a Fijian cricketer. Logavatu made his first-class debut for Fiji in 1948 against Auckland during Fiji's 1947/48 tour of New Zealand. During the tour he played five first- ...
(4–46).


Second New Zealand tour

Fiji returned for four games in the New Zealand summer of 1954, but only won one. The first game, against Otago, went down to the wire as Otago eked out a two-wicket win despite a second-innings five-for from Fenn, but it was a personal disappointment for Bula, who only managed 5 and 26 in his two innings. Then came the one-hour century against Canterbury with eight sixes and five fours, as Fiji plundered 344 from 65.3 overs in the second innings to set Canterbury a challenging 217 – which they managed for the loss of eight wickets. This was Bula's last century, and indeed his last score above 30 – as he was pushed down the order to No. 6 against Wellington, he made 23 and 26, but Wellington still forced a 117-run win, before Bula rounded off his first-class career with a seven-wicket win over Auckland – in a match that was shortened from three days to one due to rain. However, a two-innings game was still played, as the first three innings were all declared closed. Fiji were set 79 to win in a relatively short time, but after falling to 51 for 3 Bula hit 23 not out to guide Fiji to their fourth – and so far last – first class victory.


Personal life

Bula came from the chiefly village Tubou, Lakeba, in the
Lau Islands The Lau Islands aka little Tonga (also called the Lau Group, the Eastern Group, the Eastern Archipelago) of Fiji are situated in the southern Pacific Ocean, just east of the Koro Sea. Of this chain of about sixty islands and islets, about thirty a ...
and was the great great-grand nephew of the
Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...
n prince and conqueror,
Enele Ma'afu Enele is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Enele Maʻafu ( 1816–1881), Tongan chief * Enele Malele (born 1990), Fijian rugby union player * Enele Sopoaga (born 1956), Tuvaluan diplomat and politician * Enele Taufa (born 1984), ...
. In September 2005, it was announced that Bula would be posthumously inducted into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame. The
Fiji Times ''The Fiji Times'' is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869 by George Littleton Griffiths, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating. ''The Fiji Times'' is owned by Motibhai G ...
have also noted that Bula is deceased.Former cricket rep laid to rest
/ref>


References


External links

*
"From Lau to Lancaster: the Story of Ilikena"
by Jamie Bell for NZ Cricket Museum {{DEFAULTSORT:Bula, I. L. 1921 births Year of death missing Fijian cricketers Fijian people of Tongan descent I-Taukei Fijian people People from Lakeba