Noel McMahon
{{short description|New Zealand cricketer and charity worker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Noel McMahon
| image = File:Noel McMahon of NZ.jpg
| caption = Noel McMahon in 1950
| imagesize = 150px
| country = New Zealand
| fullname = Noel Albert McMahon
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|5|24|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2013|6|9|1916|5|24}}
| death_place = Auckland
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm leg-spin
| family =
| club1 = Auckland
| year1 = {{nowrap|1936/37–1937/38}}
| columns = 1
| column1 = First-class
| matches1 = 3
| runs1 = 13
| bat avg1 = 3.25
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 12
| deliveries1 = 156
| wickets1 = 3
| bowl avg1 = 32.00
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 2/42
| catches/stumpings1 = 1/–
| date = 4 January
| year = 2015
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/37894.html Cricinfo
}}
Noel Albert McMahon QSM (24 May 1916 – 9 June 2013) was a cricketer who played one match for New Zealand in the 1949–50 season.
Early life and cricket career
McMahon was born in Auckland and grew up in Te Awamutu.{{cite journal |title='The Boys From The Country' In Plunket Shield Cricket |journal=Dominion |date=29 December 1936 |page=5 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19361229.2.27}} He played two matches for Auckland in the Plunket Shield in 1936–37 and 1937–38 as a leg-spinner without distinguishing himself, although he dismissed the Test batsmen Curly Page and Ian Cromb in his first match.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/16/16052.html Canterbury v Auckland 1936-37] He was described at the time as spinning the ball sharply but with erratic length.{{cite journal |title=The Auckland Match: New Players among Visitors |journal=Evening Star |date=30 December 1936 |page=4 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19361230.2.21.1}}
After serving overseas in the New Zealand Third Division in World War II, McMahon settled in Te Awamutu, where he ran a drapery store from 1944 to 1964.{{cite news|last1=Thorsen|first1=Colin|title=Zak gets his big chance|url=https://www.teawamutu.nz/courier/archive/2016/2016-03-15.pdf|accessdate=18 June 2016|work=Te Awamutu Courier|date=15 March 2016}} He played most of his senior cricket for Waikato in the Hawke Cup as a middle-order batsman. In 1948–49 he scored 138 in an innings victory over Bay of Plenty.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/130/130986.html Bay of Plenty v Waikato 1948–49]
McMahon began the 1949–50 season by scoring 111 in a drawn match against Hutt Valley, reaching his century in 50 minutes and hitting 12 fours and eight sixes.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/123/123519.html Hutt Valley v Waikato 1949–50] In Waikato's next match, a two-day fixture against the touring Australians, he scored 102 in 157 minutes (12 fours and three sixes) out of a team total of 157; the next best score was 15.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/131/131647.html Waikato v Australians 1949–50] Given that he was 33 years old and had not played a first-class match for 12 years, his selection for the only match between New Zealand and the Australians three weeks later was unexpected. Even the Australians were surprised, as they had not taken the Waikato match very seriously.Joseph Romanos, John Reid: A Cricketing Life, Hodder Moa Beckett, Auckland, 2000, pp. 241–242. He made 0 and 12, bowled by Jack Iverson each time, and New Zealand narrowly avoided an innings defeat.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/19/19200.html New Zealand v Australia 1949–50] He played a few more Hawke Cup matches for Waikato in 1950–51 and 1951–52.{{cite web |title=Hawke Cup Matches played by Noel McMahon |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/22/22459/Hawke_Cup_Matches.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=15 January 2024}}
Later life
From 1966 to 1990 McMahon organised an annual cricketers' golf day in aid of charity at the North Shore Golf Club in Auckland.Colin Thorsen, "McMahon enjoying his 'extended innings'", Te Awamutu Courier, 27 June 2006, pp. 16–17. He was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for Community Service in the 1995 Birthday Honours.[http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/node/1068 The Queen's Birthday Honours List 1995] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150114090556/http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/node/1068 |date=2015-01-14 }}
Since 1967–68 the Noel McMahon Cup has been awarded annually for the fastest century in Hamilton Cricket Association matches.{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame|url=http://www.hamiltoncricket.co.nz/club/hall-of-fame/|website=www.hamiltoncricket.co.nz|accessdate=18 June 2016}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cricinfo|id=37894}}
- [https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C144241 Cenotaph record: Noel Albert McMahon]
- [http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/3521157/Test-is-cue-to-recall-top-ton "Test is cue to recall top ton"]
{{DEFAULTSORT:McMahon, Noel}}
Category:New Zealand cricketers
Category:New Zealand military personnel of World War II