Black Caps striving to win prestigious trophy

Black Caps striving to win prestigious Walter Lawrence Trophy

New Zealand cricketers playing in English first-class cricket this year will strive to win the prestigious Walter Lawrence Trophy competition in its platinum year.

The trophy is presented annually to the batsman scoring the fastest first-class hundred and was first awarded in 1934.

The trophy’s trustee said most first- class matches, including the British Universities v. New Zealand Black Caps match this week will qualify. The test matches also qualify.

Australian Damien Martyn won last year’s award and a cheque for 5000 pounds for his century off 65 balls for Yorkshire against Gloucestershire at Headingley on September 17.

Other previous winners include Ken Rutherford, Chris Cairns, Darren Lehmann, Ian Harvey, Matthew Fleming, Gary Sobers, Gordon Greenidge, Alan Knott, Mike Procter, Viv Richards, Ian Botham, Mike Gatting, Graeme Hick and Andy Flintoff.

The fastest century so far is Tom Moody’s 100 off 36 balls, scored in1990 during the Warwickshire v Glamorgan match at Swansea.

The adjudicators are former England captain David Gower, test match scorer Bill Frindall, cricket author Simon Hughes and trophy trustee Brian Thornton.

Durham’s Marcus North is currently leading this year with his century off 94 balls against Derbyshire, at Derby May 1. (128 minutes, 15 fours, and two sixes)

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