Karori Cricket Club :: Senior News

When it comes to batting at No 11, Karori 1A cricketer William Bell puts Black Cap Chris Martin to shame.

Bell strode to the wicket in Saturday's 50-over match against the North City Trojans in Tawa, Wellington, with his team floundering at 27-9.

What took place during the next two hours though, left teammates and opposition players gobsmacked.

Bell thrashed his first ball for six, over the clubrooms, and went on to blast 100 not out, sharing a last-wicket stand of 148 with No3 batsman Baz Taniwha, who was run out in the 50th over for 49 after earlier looking like being the team's top scorer with three.

North City then fell 51 runs short of Karori's 175.

"He hit 26 off the first over he faced and he just didn't stop. It was certainly a bit of humour," Karori captain Truman Filipo said of Bell's antics. "Ridiculous was the word used by the opposition and I don't blame them."

It must be noted Bell is normally an opening batsman but he was late to the game because he had been at work. "Still, I've never heard of a No11 scoring a hundred before," Filipo said.

To add to the bizarre events of the day, the final wicket only fell because Taniwha, who still had two balls left to score his 50, ran himself out congratulating Bell on his century.