Sonny Moloney
Denis Andrew Robert "Sonny" Moloney (11 August 1910 – 15 July 1942) was a New Zealand cricketer who played three Tests on New Zealand's 1937 tour of England. He was killed in the First Battle of El Alamein during the Second World War.[1]
 Moloney in England in 1937 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Denis Andrew Robert Moloney | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 August 1910 Dunedin, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 15 July 1942 (aged 31) El Alamein, British-occupied Egypt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Legbreak | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut (cap 30) | 26 June 1937 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 14 August 1937 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1929–30 to 1934–35, 1938–39 to 1939–40 | Otago | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1935–36 to 1937–38 | Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1940–41 | Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Cricinfo, 1 April 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Moloney was born in Dunedin and educated at Otago Boys' High School, where he represented the school at cricket, rugby and athletics.[2] A middle-order or opening batsman and leg-spin bowler, Sonny Moloney played first-class cricket in New Zealand from 1929 to 1941. His highest first-class score was 190, which he made opening Wellington's innings against Auckland in February 1937.[3] His best bowling figures were 5 for 23 against Cambridge University three months later.[4]
Moloney toured England with the New Zealand team in 1937, playing in all three Test matches. On his debut in the First Test at Lord's he scored 64 in the first innings, adding 104 for the eighth wicket with Alby Roberts.[5] He was one of the most successful players on the tour, making 1463 runs at an average of 34.83 and taking 57 wickets at 26.68 in 26 first-class matches.[6] He captained New Zealand in the match against Sir Julien Cahn's XI in 1938–39.[7]
Moloney was working as an insurance clerk in Dunedin when he enlisted to serve in the Second World War.[8] He was a lieutenant in 20 Infantry Battalion at the time of his death and is buried at El Alamein War Cemetery.[1][8]
References
- "Lieutenant MOLONEY, DENIS ANDREW ROBERT". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- "Personalities in Sport: No. XXVI: D. A. R. Moloney". Evening Star: 4. 6 November 1931.
- "Auckland v Wellington 1936-37". Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- "Cambridge University v New Zealanders 1937". Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- "1st Test, Lord's, Jun 26 - 29 1937, New Zealand tour of England". Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- Don Neely & Richard Payne, Men in White: The History of New Zealand International Cricket, 1894–1985, Moa, Auckland, 1986, p. 166.
- "New Zealand v Sir J Cahn's XI 1938–39". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- "Denis Andrew Robert Moloney". Online Cenotaph. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
External links
Media related to Sonny Moloney at Wikimedia Commons- Sonny Moloney at ESPNcricinfo
- Sonny Moloney at CricketArchive
- Cenotaph Record: Denis Andrew Robert Moloney