At Newlands, Cape Town; 27, 28, 29 December 1965.

Saturday 25 December 1965

PARTRIDGE FLIES TO JOIN TEAM

Rhodesia Herald, Bulawayo, Friday

Joe Partridge, Rhodesia's Springbok seam bowler, left here this morning en route for Cape Town, where he was due to arrive late this afternoon to strengthen his country's Currie Cup cricket team for the match against Western Province beginning on Monday.

He had to miss the first match of the tour - against Natal at Maritzburg - through the recurrence of an old groin injury, but after a series of fitness tests in Bulawayo this week, he declared himself fit last night, and flew off this morning.

The selection of the Rhodesian team to play Western Province was being delayed until Partridge's arrival in the Cape.

W. PROVINCE FACING HARD TASK AGAINST RHODESIA

>From our correspondent (Rhodesia Herald, Saturday 25 December 1965)

Their considerable feat in taking first innings points from the champions, Natal, stamps Rhodesia as formidable opponents for Western Province in the Currie Cup cricket match starting at Newlands here on Monday.

Though Rhodesia's batsmen, in the past, have seldom done themselves justice at Newlands - Harry Bromfield's off-spinners played a big part in the big Western Province victory when Rhodesia last played on this ground - there is an unusually solid look about the visitors' batting this season.

The Province attack will have to do some hard grafting to dispose of the upper crust of Rhodesia's batting - formed by Nick Frangos, Ray Gripper, Rob Ullyett, Tony Pithey, Colin Bland and David Pithey - at a reasonable cost.

The vagaries of the slow-paced Newlands pitch are familiar to the Pithey brothers and Frangos from their days at the University of Cape Town, and one well recalls that Tony Pithey took a chanceless century off Natal in his first appearance for Western Province at Newlands.

Bland, reported to have batted in his best style against Natal after failing against Eastern Province, played innings of 78 and 64 against Mike Smith's MCC tourists in the Third Test at Newlands a year ago.

Nevertheless, the Western Province attack is not to be despised. By all accounts, the Province fielding against Eastern Province was of a high quality, and Peter van der Merwe's shrewd placements will reduce the gaps.

The off-spin of Bromfield - bowling with exceptional steadiness this season -and Richard Steyn could give Rhodesia's batsmen most trouble. The seamers of Frank Drummer and John Cole could be supplemented by those of the new Stellenbosch all-rounder, Ed Emary, and Robbie Muzzell's leg-spinners will add the necessary variety.

One has more qualms about the Province batting than the bowling, and the fact that the innings will be opened by Len Weinstein and Andre Bruyns, who are not specialists in this position, must cause some misgivings.

But the return on Lynton Morby-Smith in the number three position strengthens the run-making potential of the side and there is probably more depth to the home team's batting than the Rhodesia's with Steyn and Tony Catt going in at Nos 7 and 8 and Drummer, the hero against Eastern Province, to follow.

The Rhodesians reached Cape Town early this morning after a tiring rail journey from Maritzburg.

The selection of the Rhodesian team is being delayed pending news of Joe Partridge. The Rhodesians will also have to decide whether to find a batting place for John McPhun, who stood down against Natal.

While Rhodesia look stronger on paper, Western Province could do well. They have won four of their past six Currie Cup matches against Rhodesia outright, lost one and drawn one.

Rhodesia (from) - A Pithey, R Gripper, N Frangos, R Ullyett, C Bland, D Pithey, E Parker, A de Caila, J du Preez, G Lawrence, J Partridge, J McPhun and P Swart.

Western Province: P van der Merwe, L Weinstein, A Bruyns, L Morby-Smith, R Muzzell, E Emary, R Steyn, A Catt, F Drummer, H Bromfield and J Cole.

Monday 27 December 1965

RHODESIANS ARE FULL OF CONFIDENCE FOR TODAY'S MATCH

>From Len Brown (Cape Town, Sunday)

With young Peter Swart already omitted from the Rhodesian team in favour of Joe Partridge, the selectors late this evening decided that the remaining place should be filled by John McPhun, with Rob Ullyett, of the batsmen, standing down for the Currie Cup match against Western Province starting here at Newlands tomorrow morning.

Ullyett was not impressive against Natal in either innings at Maritzburg, and in net practices here since the team arrived McPhun has recaptured all his early season batting form and has been shaping really well. The dropping of Ullyett was therefore not entirely unexpected. Swart will be twelfth man.

The team had a full-scale practice at Newlands this afternoon, lasting two and a half hours, and it was good to see the vim and vigour with which they invested their endeavours.

Obviously they've fully recovered from that nightmare train journey from Maritzburg, and now that the Christmas festivities are over, I get the distinct impression that they are keen to get on with this game.

Naturally most interest centred on Joe Partridge, and when he took a new ball with Gripper at bat, he was moving the ball both ways as sharply as ever, and bowling just a shade faster than he has done for most of the season.

If he stays fit throughout his game, there could be problems for the Province batsmen, particularly those who have not yet faced up to him.

It was a good, hard work-out, and left the players feeling fit and raring to go.

There seem to be more qualms among the locals here about the Western Province batting, than with regard to the bowlers. They have misgivings about the batting line-up, especially the use of Weinstein and Bruyns as openers, for neither is a specialist opener.

But they then take heart from the fact that they bat down to number seven in the order, whereas they seem of the opinion that Rhodesia's batting ends at number six, the upper crust being Frangos, Gripper, McPhun, Tony Pithey, Bland and David Pithey.

I think they have erred here in writing off such batsmen to follow as Parker, du Preez, de Caila and Lawrence.

Great emphasis is being place don spin bowlers for this match, and Province supporters feel they have the edge here in off-spinners Bromfield and Steyn, and Muzzell's leg-spinners. Only events in the next three days will prove whether their confidence is well founded.

For myself, having seen this pitch, if there is the usual south-easter breeze blowing, I would not discount the seamers in this match, and here, despite the presence of ex-Natalian John Cole in the Province attack, I think Rhodesia can claim the edge, with Partridge, Lawrence and Eddie Parker who, I feel, will be told to go out for more pace in this game.

The Rhodesian morale, sky-high since that first innings win over Natal - which seems to have soured quite a few Natal and Johannesburg cricket writers - has been given a further boost by the arrival, and apparent fitness, of Partridge.

Play starts at 10.30 a.m. and ends at 6.30 p.m. on all three days.

Tuesday 28 December 1965

PARTRIDGE, LAWRENCE BOWL RHODESIA INTO A STRONG POSITION

>From Len Brown (Cape Town, Monday)

Those two grand old bowling war horses, Joe Partridge and Godfrey Lawrence, today bowled Rhodesia into a fairly strong position on the opening day of their Currie Cup cricket match against Western Province here at Newlands.

On a day in which two hours and 20 minutes were lost through rain, Province were all out just before the close for 194 on a perfect batting pitch that looks good for many more runs in the next two days.

Apart from Weinstein, Morby-Smith and skipper Peter van der Merwe, the Province batsmen showed little inclination to attack the bowling, and a stiffish, swirling breeze gave both Partridge and Lawrence the chance to move the ball fairly regularly in the air.

Lawrence's figures bear no resemblance to the excellence of his bowling. In fact, on the day's efforts it gave the palm to him rather than to Partridge who was inclined to bowl too much down the leg side at times.

Partridge had not bowled as well as we have seen him. His direction was at fault far too frequently and there were too many half volleys on the leg stump. But he made the initial breakthrough when he got Bruyns, who had never looked comfortable to either bowler, to snick one for de Caila to make a comfortable waist-high catch.

Weinstein, a grand attacking player off the front foot, was severe on anything well up to him, but he survived five confident leg before wicket appeals from Lawrence before he was caught by McPhun off Lawrence.

Morby-Smith, who had begun in most confident manner and was just beginning to look set, was the next to go when he slashed fiercely at a shortish ball from Lawrence, the ball struck McPhun in the chest and deflected to du Preez at third slip who snapped up the chance.

Province skipper van der Merwe and Muzzell kept up the scoring rate with 21 in 16 minutes when the rain came and drove the players from the field. That was at 12.40 p.m. and it was exactly 4 o'clock before the match could be resumed.

Then Muzzell got an edge to a late inswinger from Partridge and de Caila made a magnificent one-handed diving catch to his left 113 for four.

After Lawrence had bowled a maiden to van der Merwe, Partridge struck again in the next over, bowling Emary first ball, and Rhodesia were now on top.

Lawrence then bowled the over of the match to the new batsman, Catt, who was completely at sea to every ball, but somehow survived.

Partridge was in no mood for a rest and after flattening Catt's off stump, two overs later had van der Merwe caught at mid-off from a tame shot after such a grand innings - 164 for seven.

This was great bowling on a lovely batting pitch. At this stage Pithey switched Partridge into the breeze and recalled Lawrence to the other end, and Drummer promptly ran himself out when it wasn't his call.

Partridge had just about bowled himself into the ground and du Preez came on in his place. The batting was now a real sleep inducer and with the crowd shouting for action Steyn lashed out and was easily caught by Partridge at mid-on. He had batted 58 minutes for nine runs.

Then du Preez took a good diving catch to round the innings up and get rid of Bromfield. There was a crowd of six thousand at one stage but the rain drove many of them home.

Wednesday 29 December 1965

TIMID RHODESIA BEHIND ON FIRST INNINGS - BUT CAN WIN OUTRIGHT

>From Len Brown (Cape Town, Tuesday)

Despite some timid first innings batting which left them 22 runs behind on the first innings, Rhodesia fought back at the end of a great day's play in their Currie Cup cricket match here against Western Province and are still in with a chance of forcing an outright win.

At the close Western Province, with six second-innings wickets still standing, were 101 runs ahead.

The top half of the Rhodesian batting order did not exactly cover itself with glory today and it was left to skipper Tony Pithey, solid as a rock and quite unperturbed during a three-hour battle for runs, and the tail-enders Jackie du Preez, Joe Partridge and Godfrey Lawrence to give some semblance of respectability to the Rhodesian total and leave the side some hope tomorrow.

Du Preez it was who introduced the first note of defiance by attacking each and every one of the Province bowlers right from the first ball, and Partridge and Lawrence warmed the hearts of the crowd here with one of the best fighting last-wicket partnerships I've seen in years.

These four rescued the side from a parlous state - 59 for seven and if Rhodesia gain any success from this match tomorrow they can lay claim to a fair share of the kudos.

Seam bowler John Cole has been a thorn in the flesh of Rhodesian batsmen for a number of years playing for Natal teams. Today here at Newlands he showed that, although he has now switched allegiance to Western Province, he still has the Indian sign on our players.

Young Andre Bruyns at leg gully held two superb catches, the first of which got rid of David Pithey just when he seemed to be settling in and ready to put the Rhodesian innings back on an even keel.

This left skipper Tony Pithey fighting a lone hand while wickets fell regularly at the other end. It was an unhappy morning for Rhodesia, with the batsmen unwilling to go for their shots and Cole in supreme command.

At lunch, Rhodesia were 57 for six wickets and Cole had the fantastic figures of 24 overs, 13 maidens, 25 runs and four wickets - visible testimony to the manner in which he had broken the back of the innings.

He had bowled unchanged all morning. Three runs after lunch de Caila was out to another superb diving catch by Bruyns - Rhodesia would have been proud to own him as a fielder today - and then came du Preez to join his skipper and a bring a breath of defiance and attack out to the middle at long last.

Du Preez and Pithey went within a few balls of each other and it seemed all over when Partridge joined Lawrence for the last wicket.

But these two don't know what it is to give in. Enjoying a modicum of luck - each was dropped from skiers in the outfield they settled down and batted as sensibly as I've seen any last wicket pair in my life. Their 50 partnership came up in 40 minutes.

Rhodesia were all out just before tea, which left Province two and a quarter hours' batting time until close.

Lawrence was again in great bowling trim, but had little luck, especially while Weinstein and Morby-Smith were adding a chancy 38 runs for the second wicket.

Testimony to the fine Rhodesian attack and fielding was the fact that Weinstein scored 33 in an hour and stayed on that total for the next 65 minutes.

Rhodesia were fighting at the end for just one more wicket to put this match right back in the melting pot, and with five minutes to go Lawrence got one to shoot through and Weinstein's luck finally ran out.

There is a prospect of a great finish here tomorrow, but the Rhodesian batsmen will have to adopt a far more belligerent attitude if they want to win.

Thursday 30 December 1965

LAWRENCE (8-42) THE HERO OF RHODESIA'S SIX-WICKET VICTORY

>From Len Brown (Cape Town, Wednesday)

``Good old Goofy!'' The cry rang out across Newlands cricket ground this morning like a call to arms from some enthusiastic Rhodesian supporter as the big-hearted Springbok pace bowler, Godfrey Lawrence, produced one of the most fantastic spells of a great career to put Rhodesia in line for an outright win over Western Province in their Currie Cup cricket match by a comfortable six wickets.

In a spell of five overs and one ball, Lawrence, with his old partner Joe Partridge at the other end lending a hand, grabbed five Western Province wickets for 13 runs to rattle them out for a meagre 99 runs after they had started the day at 79-4.

With their first innings lead of 22 runs, Province thus set Rhodesia a target of 122 for an outright win, and due mainly to a most responsible innings by Ray Gripper (51), this task was accomplished with the minimum of the usual alarms and excursions with which Rhodesia usually invest their batting when set a target in the fourth innings - though they did lose Gripper and Tony Pithey when only a handful of runs were needed. But by then the pressure was off and victory just around the corner.

Let's go through those 10 overs by Lawrence and Partridge which made victory possible. Partridge started it all in his second over - when he had young Muzzell caught at slip by Eddie Parker.

Lawrence got into the act in his next over when he had Emary caught at leg gully by du Preez, and two balls later de Caila took a smart catch low down to get rid of Steyn.

Next over Lawrence struck again when du Preez accepted his second catch round the corner with his usual aplomb, and two overs alter he had Bromfield caught at mid-on by Partridge and flattened Drummer's off stump.

For the second time in the match the crowd rose to him as he came off - as he had done when he and Partridge produced that fighting last-wicket stand yesterday afternoon.

Lawrence's eight wickets for 42 runs is almost unheard of for a pace bowler on this Newlands wicket, and with Partridge bowling probably better this morning than at any stage of the match there were some pointed questions being asked as to how they had been ignored for South African honours so consistently.

Lawrence's figures this morning read - 5.1 overs, 3 maidens, 13 runs and 5 wickets.

Rhodesia were left with just over six hours in which to get the runs and the air was tense as Drummer and Cole tore into the attack. Gripper was never in any difficulty at any stage and at times seemed to be shielding Frangos and later McPhun particularly from Cole who was not, however, getting quite the same help from the pitch as he had done in the first innings.

The score mounted mostly in singles, only 20 coming in the first hour for the loss of Frangos's wicket.

Then McPhun swung a full toss from Cole over the square leg fence, clipped him next ball for four, and when he took another four off the first ball of Cole's next over the pressure was off, although McPhun was out to the last ball of that over.

Tony Pithey and Gripper went about the job of keeping the board moving in a most sensible manner, taking the quick singles and waiting for the loose ball before attempting nay heroics.

The 50 partnership came in 66 minutes - good going, this - and Gripper finally reached his 50 in 153 minutes.

Pithey scored freely and Bland finally scored the winning run in Rhodesia's first-ever win at Newlands with a glorious cover drive - but not before with one final note of excitement to this grand match he had been dropped at slip by Province skipper Peter van der Merwe.

The team flies to Port Elizabeth at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

RHODESIA ON TOP

Rhodesia are top of the A Section of the Currie Cup competition. But they have played more matches than the other our teams.

Transvaal, with 10 points from three matches, are in second place one point behind Rhodesia with a game in hand. Eastern Province (six points from three matches) are third, Natal (four from two) fourth and Western Province (one from two) last.

Contributed by John Ward