HAMPSHIRE cricketers are in mourning after it was revealed popular Winchester player Mark Parker was a victim of the Bali bomb blast.

The New Zealander had played cricket for St Cross Symondians for the last three seasons, and was vital in winning the first-class team promotion.

Mr Parker, 26, was among 190 people from across the globe known to have died in a huge explosion at the Indonesian paradise island's Sari nightclub in Kuta.

He had stopped off for a short break enroute to his home city of Wellington, after finishing the summer cricket season in Winchester.

An investment banker who divided his time between Clapham in London and Cornes Close, Fulflood, Winchester, Mr Parker was hired by St Cross Symondians' as the club's overseas player.

A prolific opening batsman, he posted the second highest figures in the Southern Electric Bronze cricket league, with 757 runs and an average of 84.11.

He was unmarried but had an English girlfriend living in London and was planning to return to England to play another season in Winchester.

Friends and team-mates today told of the devastation caused by his death.

Former flatmate Richard Jones said: "He spent a lot of time in Winchester and he loved the place. He was incredibly positive, very bubbly and very popular in the club because of his easy, going, affable style. He had a zest for life and loved living it.

"His death is going to hit the club very hard. We are all trying to come to terms with it but the effect will be far-reaching. It will devastate the club but I hope we respond and play the kind of cricket he would have wanted."

Mr Parker comes from a line of cricketing greats - his father Murray played Test cricket for New Zealand and his uncle John captained the international side.

On the field rival Shaun Green, who plays for local club Eastern and Martyr Worthy, said: "I played against him and he was a good competitor. He was the sort of chap that never believed in luck. He thought you made your own luck and he had the utmost respect from other players."

St Cross Symondians spokesman Graham Barratt said simply: "He was just about the nicest bloke you could ever hope to meet."