At Police Ground, Salisbury; 19, 20, 21 February 1972. Rhodesia (261 and 250/6d) drew with Western Province (283 and 68/2). - RHODESIA v WESTERN PROVINCE (Currie Cup match) CricInfo report

Reports taken from The Herald unless otherwise stated.

CARRY ON – SAY THE SELECTORS

By Glen Byrom; Thursday 10 February 1972

The Rhodesian cricket selectors have stuck by the old maxim of ‘never change a winning team’ and have named the same 12 players who toured South Africa recently for the A Section Currie Cup match against Western Province at Salisbury Police Ground on February 19, 20 and 21.

The 12 are: Mike Procter (captain), Stuart Robertson (vice-captain), Brian Barbour, Ray Gripper, Brian Davison, Jackie du Preez, Duncan Fletcher, Jimmy Mitchell, Paddy Clift, Vincent Hogg, Howie Gardiner and Richie Kaschula.

This vote of confidence in the tour team was expected after the spectacular successes on tour, when handsome victories were recorded over Transvaal and Northern Transvaal.

BARLOW PLAYS IN SALISBURY

From A C Parker, Cape Town; 11 February 1972

Eddie Barlow is in the Western Province team for the away Currie Cup matches against Rhodesia and Transvaal this month, but a notable omission is that of the all-rounder, Peter Swart.

A twelfth player to accompany the team to Salisbury and Johannesburg will be selected over the weekend. The 11 players chosen are: A Bruyns (captain), E Barlow, N Budge, P Denne, H Ackerman, M Bowditch, G Pfuhl, R Jackman, R Morris, G Chevalier, S Bruce.

Peter Swart and the leg-spinner Denys Hobson of the team that played against Eastern Province have been omitted. Peter Denne, who played against Transvaal and Natal, has been brought back as No 4 batsman and the 18-year-old South African Nuffield cap, Stephen Bruce (he was 12th man against Eastern Province) is in the party to travel.

Rhodesian-born Swart has been a regular choice for Western Province over the past two seasons and in the recent match against Natal in Maritzburg had a big share in Natal’s startling first-innings collapse for 76.

“Swart was not considered,” was the laconic comment yesterday of Mr Ron Delport (chairman of the selection committee). He declined to elaborate.

It will not be easy to replace Swart, particularly his medium-paced stock bowling and brilliance in the outfield. The selectors obviously want to look at a few bowlers in club cricket on Saturday, and a strong contender is Morne du Plessis, the Springbok rugby forward. Deon Hugo is also a ‘possible’. The availability of Eddie Barlow will mean a great deal to the side.

RAY GRIPPER TO QUIT

By John Kelley; Sunday Mail, 13 February 1972

Rhodesia’s deposed cricket captain, Ray Gripper, is to retire from first-class cricket. The match against Western Province next week will probably be his last. But his decision has nothing to do with his recent replacement as skipper by Mike Procter.

“It is entirely due to increasing pressure of business, which is going to take up a great deal of my time in the near future,” he said. “On the question of my replacement as captain, I believe the selectors are entitled to make whatever decisions they wish with regard to players. We must be entirely at their disposal and accept these decisions.

“I obviously got the sack because they considered the responsibility was affecting my batting. I don’t believe that, but I accepted their decision without question.”

Ray Gripper has had many fierce critics since he took over the national captaincy from Colin Bland. But his departure will leave a serious gap in the Rhodesian side, particularly at a time when he and Barbour were beginning to complement each other as an opening partnership.

Gripper first played for Rhodesia in 1957 when he took part in a ‘friendly’ tour of South Africa. Since then he has played in 82 first-class matches and had 150 innings. He has scored over 4300 runs at an average of 31 apiece.

His 279 not out against Free State at Bloemfontein in the 1967-68 season still stands as the highest score by a Rhodesian for Rhodesia and his partnership of 268 with Jono Clarke on the same day is the Rhodesian record. The feat earned him a place in the five Cricketers of the Year.

Gripper played for the Rhodesian Nuffield side and for South African schools before embarking on a first-class career lasting 14 years. He started as opening batsman and remained in that position.

He said after returning from the successful tour of Transvaal last week: “I offered to stand down for next week’s Western Province match, so that the selectors could ‘blood’ somebody. But they asked me to play.

“I shall almost certainly not be available for the remaining two Currie Cup matches this season, nor for any future Logan Cup games.” But he will continue to turn out regularly for his club, Old Georgians.

I AM NOT RETIRING – GRIPPER

By Glen Byrom; Saturday 19 February 1972

When Ray Gripper walks out to bat against Western Province this weekend it may not be his last innings for the country. Contrary to Sunday newspaper reports he has NOT told the selectors that he ‘almost certainly’ won’t be available for the remaining two Currie Cup matches.

Gripper, a fine sportsman for Rhodesia for many years, is upset that the impression may have been created that he is ‘quitting’ in the middle of a vital season because he lost the captaincy to Mike Procter.

“This is not so,” he told me yesterday. “The fact is that because of increasing pressure of business I almost certainly won’t be playing next year. I have told the selectors that if we have a chance to win the Currie Cup and they consider me part of the best team available then of course I’ll play, business commitments allowing. If we have no chance of winning the Cup then I have suggested that the selectors take the opportunity to blood some new player for the remaining two games.

“I have no intention of merely quitting in the middle of the season. Next Sunday I have to go to Lourenco Marques [now Maputo] on business and I hope to get back by Wednesday or Thursday. Provided all goes smoothly and I am back then I will be available to play against Natal in Bulawayo. It’s entirely up to the selectors . . . I have not told them I’m quitting and not to choose me.”

MIKE PROCTER COLUMN

Sunday Mail, 20 February 1972

Ray Gripper, for whom retirement seems to be near, has given Rhodesia wonderful service over the past 14 or 15 years.

In my first-class debut I came up against Ray Gripper. Ray opened the batting, and having bowled against him then and on many occasions since, I will always remember him as an extremely hard batsman to get out – especially at the start of an innings.

He was never a player to tear apart an attack, but was always an ideal opener who saw his job as getting each innings off to a good start. Over the years he achieved that aim exceptionally well.

Gripper came close to Springbok selection at one time and he did in fact have a representative tour when he went to England with the Fezelas under Roy McLean. Peter Pollock, Denis Lindsay and Jackie Botten also undertook that tour, which gives some indication of the quality.

Gripper’s departure will make it a sad day for Rhodesia, but fortunately there are several up-and-coming players.

NOW WE MUST PROVE WORTH AT HOME

The Procter Column; Sunday Mail, 13 February 1972

Rhodesia face a very important Currie Cup match next weekend against Western Province. Although Natal are favourites to win the Cup, any of the sides can take it, and one good win by any of the top three would place them as firm favourites. We have had a lot of success in the last three games and we must now keep up the good work and prove our worth in front of our own spectators.

The Western Province side is much stronger than the one we met in Cape Town. The inclusion of that dynamic cricketer Eddie Barlow makes any ordinary side into a good one. He has already shown his value by scoring a hundred in his first Currie Cup game of the season.

Hylton Ackerman, who recently returned from Australia, where he was a member of the Rest of the World side, proved himself to be a to-class batsman. He is also a free-scoring player who can be very entertaining to watch. These two certainly make Western Province into a very attractive side. It should be a very good game of cricket between two teams who both believe in playing positive attacking cricket.

The highlight of the tour to South Africa was undoubtedly the way every member of the team contributed to some wonderful team performances. The fielding in both games was extremely good, particularly during the lat day against Transvaal.

We all knew it was going to be very hard work because of the plumb batting wicket and the fast outfield. Everyone responded magnificently. Neither the bowlers nor the fielders could afford to relax and ‘let them off the hook’.

Mention must be made of Brian Davison for the wonderful job he did in the field. Whenever a new batsman came in or the bowlers were bowling particularly well we were able to exert more pressure on the batsman by fielding Brian in what can only be described as a suicide position – about a yard from the bat square on to the wicket on the off side. Apart from taking a couple of catches there (including Denis Lindsay) he forced the batsman into shots he wouldn’t normally play – consequently getting themselves out.

The batting in both games was top class and everyone applied themselves and concentrated on the job in hand. Even Richie Kaschula and Vincent Hogg knew we had to get as many runs as possible and played accordingly. Stuart Robertson has certainly solved the No 3 position and batted with real class. Duncan Fletcher continues to impress with both bat and ball and is twice the cricketer Clive Rice is.

Vincent Hogg bowled very impressively in Johannesburg and Paddy Clift showed good temperament against Northern Transvaal although he didn’t have much opportunity because of the state of the wicket.

It would be interesting to see the side if there was a touring team to be picked at the end of the season. It would differ a great deal from the previous one chosen to tour Australia. Of the Rhodesian players, Jack du Preez, Richie Kaschula, Stuart Robertson and Duncan Fletcher would all stand a great chance and we just hope the day is not too far away when all these players will have the opportunity to be selected for a Springbok side.

BRUYNS EXPECTS MORE RUNS

From A C Parker, Cape Town; Friday 18 February 1972

“The return of Eddie Barlow and Hylton Ackerman makes a great difference to our batting strength particularly, and while I know we face a tough task I am confident we are capable of doing well.”

This was the reply of Andre Bruyns (the Western Province cricket captain) when I asked how he felt about the Currie Cup matches against Rhodesia and Transvaal. The Western Province players and the manager, Mr George Crighton, fly to Salisbury today for their match against Rhodesia.

“Our trouble this season is that we have not been able to make enough runs,” Bruyns said. “With Eddie and Hylton back, Mike Bowditch and Gavin Pfuhl can drop down to their accustomed places in the order, where they are happier.”

Barlow, against Eastern Province, had not been as fit as he used to be, but he had worked hard over the past two weeks and would be able to do his full share of bowling.

Bruyns sees the Rhodesia match as vital, and possibly the harder of the two. He feels that if Province can take a major share of the points from this game, and force an outright win, they will be back in contention for the Currie Cup.

“Mike Procter, of course, will be a big factor in the match and we might have to contend with a quickish wicket with a lot of grass. As a batsman he is vulnerable at the start, and when he scored 254 against us on this ground last season I dropped him at four.”

It is expected that Stephen Bruce will be 12th man against Rhodesia, with the batting order: Barlow, Budge, Bruyns, Ackerman, Denne, Bowditch, Pfuhl, Morris, Jackman, du Plessis, Chevalier.

RHODESIA’S BIG CURRIE CUP CHANCE

By Glen Byrom; Saturday 19 February 1972

Rejuvenated Rhodesia, their last three games won and still within reach of the coveted Currie Cup, must beat Western Province outright in the A Section match starting in Salisbury today if they are to stay in the title race.

Perhaps this three-day match at the Police Ground will be ultimately decided by one of two men – Mike Procter or Eddie Barlow. South Africa’s greatest present-day all-rounders can both swing the fortunes of the game with either bat or ball.

Decidedly Rhodesia has the greater depth of talent and Western Province will rely heavily on Barlow, Andre Bruyns and Hylton Ackerman. If they are contained then Rhodesia will win.

Happily, Rhodesia no longer relies wholly on the talents of their new captain Mike Procter. In the past few matches the batting has shown depth and maturity and the bowlers have responded, particularly the spinners Richie Kaschula and Jackie du Preez, who on the recent tour were both outstanding.

Procter is too experienced in this unpredictable game to allow a spirit of complacency and over-confidence to sabotage Rhodesia at this vital stage and I think spectators will clearly see the NEW Rhodesia.

While Procter is not Rhodesia’s lone hope, he is the international star with the ability to land a knockout blow with bat or ball. His batting form returned on the recent tour with a princely century against Northern Transvaal and his fiery pace bowling will be a source of great concern to Westerns over the next three days.

The men from the Cape will remember how the blond Springbok tore into them in the first innings at Newlands in last month’s friendly. That was inspired bowling on an ordinary pitch that lacked real pace.

Today they face an even more menacing Procter. More menacing because now he is captain and is fiercely determined to lead by example. And more menacing because the Police pitch is the fastest in the country and well suited to Procter’s pace.

In last month’s friendly Rhodesia were outright winners, though they almost threw the game away after they were set 118 to win, achieving this with eight wickets down. However, the significance of that win should not be overlooked. It is commendable for any side to win at Newlands, particularly when they lose the toss and bat on the last day.

But Rhodesia, for all their recent jubilation, did not face Barlow at Newlands. Nor Hylton Ackerman, the powerful left-hand batsman who did so well for the World XI in Australia. These two make Western Province a tougher proposition this time. The incomparable Barlow is one of the most dynamic characters in the game.

Two seasons ago he led Westerns back into the A Section and to a share of the Currie Cup with Transvaal. His inspiration and presence make Westerns even-odds opponents.

Rhodesian supporters will be able to judge for themselves the abilities and qualities of Andre Bruyns as a batsman. Go to Cape Town and supporters there rave about him. They’ll tell you he is the equivalent of Richards, Pollock and Procter. He is a good player, capable of first-class centuries. But he is far below the three mentioned. Judge for yourselves today.

Another key man in the visiting attack is left-arm spinner Grahame Chevalier, a 34-year-old veteran Springbok. He will find little to his liking on the hard, fast Police pitch and think Rhodesia’s Kaschula will be a better bowler than him in these conditions. Chevalier relishes the famous southeaster that blows across Newlands and its absence here could take the edge off his accurate spin.

While Westerns bring a better team than Rhodesia faced at Newlands it is equally true to say they will be facing a stronger Rhodesian team. Not only is it more confident, but the stylish left-hander Stuart Robertson has added solidarity to the number three batting position and since his return from England he has not failed, scoring 43, 1 not out, 62 and 63 not out.

The Rhodesian 12th man will only be decided this morning, but it is likely to be either Paddy Clift or Vincent Hogg.

Even with Eddie Barlow in the opposition I place my faith in the Rhodesians this weekend. They will prove they are the better side and worthy contenders for the Currie Cup.

DEADLOCKED – BUT W.P. HAVE EDGE

By John Kelley; Sunday Mail, 20 February 1972

It seemed like all of Rhodesia held its breath yesterday as Mike Procter’s triumphant cricket team forged 261 hard-earned runs against a less-than-benevolent Eddie Barlow’s Western Province. The 5065 paying spectators – best Saturday cricket crowd in Salisbury for more than a decade – watched a gripping encounter between two balanced sides giving not an inch, not a centimetre.

On a slow outfield, worth perhaps 40 runs to a fielding side, Rhodesia’s total looks healthy. But set against the 49 runs Barlow and Budge grafted for in the final hour, it is tempting to suggest that Province have the edge.

Rhodesia and Westerns both picked up three bonus points, Rhodesia from 225 runs after 85 overs, Fletcher getting the single that mattered three balls before the limit, Western Province for taking six wickets. It was less than might have been expected from these two teams at a time when bonus points may well decide the championship. But attacks of ‘bonus-pointsitis’ can lead to low totals through unwarranted risk, with the result that ultimate victory is jeopardized.

After losing Gripper with only nine on the board and Brian Barbour in the pavilion nursing a dislocated jaw after receiving a rising ball from Robin Jackman, Rhodesia were forced to get their heads down and not look too often at the section of the scoreboard which showed the overs ticking away.

It fell to Stuart Robertson and Brian Davison to take fresh guard and hang on. With Robertson yet to make a Currie Cup score of any dimension and Davison with his timing off, the position looked precarious. But Robertson’s finesse and Davison’s power put the finger in the dyke. When they were parted 2¼ hours later, having scored 50 and 66 respectively, Rhodesia were set to change into top gear.

Davison hit the shot of the season when he hooked a bouncer from Barlow off the end of his nose in a blur of long hair and willow, sending the ball truly in the direction of Fourth Street.

Procter was now thinking in terms of a big total and Davison was savouring the thought of some $250 which will come his way from sponsorship at just short of $4 a run by members of his club, Salisbury Sports Club. But Procter made only 28, a good many below par for him, while du Preez, Gardiner and Fletcher were all unable to make their presence felt. Rhodesia had slipped badly from 120-2 to 190-6.

Jimmy Mitchell was the man to keep the stitching together as the seams began to split. He was subjected to minor bursts of slow handclapping and Fletcher had his share too. Both answered in different ways, Fletcher with a towering six and Mitchell with an undefeated 45 to show that quality cannot always be counted in boundaries.

Thus the 261 was built without the fireworks that have marked the Rhodesian side’s performances of late, but with more than a spark of sense. Western Province fielded soundly all day and while the bowling lacked sustained hostility it certainly had substance and variation.

The crux of the matter was held in the first half hour of the Western Province innings. Barlow and Neville Budge opened to some Procter intimidation beyond dispute. He came round the wicket to five slips standing there like a power station picket line.

But he had only a sweaty shirt to show for his efforts. Budge was unbudgeable and Barlow looked like he could stay until Tuesday. They have used up 18 overs in getting 49 runs, and bonus points will be elusive today.

The game is not so much poised as pent up this morning, as Barlow and Procter strain mental and physical muscle in an effort to deliver the coup de grace.

BARBOUR – A FRACTURE

Rhodesian opening batsman Brian Barbour has a hairline fracture of the jawbone. He was struck below the left ear by a bumper from Province opener Robin Jackman on Saturday, and an X-ray revealed a hairline fracture below his lip.

Although in some pain, the 18-year-old from Bulawayo returned to bat on Saturday, making 13. He did not field yesterday, but batted at number five and is not out 28. Barbour is expected to be available for both the Logan Cup in Salisbury this weekend and the Currie Cup match against Natal.

PROCTER – THE ONE MAN ON WHOM IT ALL DEPENDS

By Glen Byrom; Monday 21 February 1972

If ever Rhodesia needed Mike Procter to be a one-man team it is today at the Salisbury Police Ground. The well-built Springbok star is the one man capable of savaging the Western Province bowlers to enable a positive declaration. And he is the man Rhodesia will then hope can whip out the Province top-order batsmen and show the way to victory in the crucial A Section Currie Cup match.

Can he and his men do it? Or will Western Province claim a few quick wickets this morning and race on to outright victory and the full ten points? With the match finely balanced (perhaps tilting slightly the visiting team’s way) it is sure to be an absorbing struggle between bat and ball.

Rhodesia are 63 runs ahead with seven second-innings wickets standing. Stylish left-hander Stuart Robertson (320 and courageous Brian Barbour (28) are at the crease, Bar with a fractured jaw and in some pain.

Yesterday’s highlights came from Eddie Barlow, who sweated for his century in 255 minutes, hitting only three fours, and Mike Procter, who ripped through the lower half of the Province batting to finish with five for 70. The crowd of 6500 saw Procter take the new ball to wreck the Province innings and put Rhodesia back in contention.

The indomitable Barlow could be the one to deny Rhodesia real hope. His century yesterday brought him within 106 runs of the golden milestone of 10 000 runs in first-class cricket.

GOING WESTERNS’ WAY?

By Glen Byrom; Monday 21 February 1972

The irrepressible Eddie Barlow took a typical century off Rhodesia at the Salisbury Police Ground yesterday to build the foundations of what loomed as a formidable Western Province first-innings total.

But the equally irrepressible Mike Procter mowed down the last five wickets to send Province reeling from 242-4 to 283 all out, and a slim first-innings lead of 22. At the close of the second day Rhodesia were 85-3 in their second innings.

So this crucial A Section match is finely poised and there could be an exciting finish today. The odds, perhaps, are tilting slightly in Western Province’s favour, and a few quick wickets today will put them well on the road to victory.

But the oh-so-cool and classy left-hander Stuart Robertson is still there with 32, while the injured Brian Barbour has 28 and is punching the ball well, though he has played several ‘nightmare’ strokes. Bonus points earned in the first innings were: Rhodesia 5 (3 batting, 2 bowling); Western Province 6 (3 batting, 3 bowling).

Resuming yesterday at 39-0, Barlow and Neville Budge took the total to 69 before Budge was trapped leg-before by seamer Paddy Clift. This was the 18-year-old Clift’s first Currie Cup wicket and later he snapped up the vital scalp of Hylton Ackerman, also leg-before.

Barlow and Andre Bruyns put on 93 in 106 minutes before Bruyns was caught at mid-off, skying the ball after attempting to hook Kaschula.

Barlow was fortunate to reach his second successive Currie Cup century, thanks to the Rhodesian fielders. They dropped him three times. The first was a sharp chance to short leg Jimmy Mitchell, when Barlow had 28. He had 56 when bowler Jack du Preez got his fingers to a scorching lofted drive.

But the biggest let-off came when he had 71 and edged a ball from Kaschula chest-high to first slip Procter. Incredibly it plopped out like a piece of wet soap. A rare miss for Procter.

Barlow reached his century and was poised to tear into the attack, in the hunt for bonus points, when he dabbed a ball from Kaschula straight into Procter’s hands at slip. The Springbok all-rounder had batted 255 minutes and evidence of the slow outfield was that he hit only three fours and a six in his 101.

Peter Denne swished at a Fletcher bumper to be caught behind and it was then that the wicketless Procter began his devastation. Mike Bowditch, after offering a sharp chance to short-leg Gripper second ball, was trapped leg-before by Procter. Then Clift dismissed the powerful and menacing Ackerman.

Procter switched from the town end to the club end and shattered the remaining four – Richard Morris, Robin Jackman and last man out Gavin Pfuhl all had their stumps uprooted by magnificent balls of pace and swing, while Morne du Plessis was snapped up by second slip Brian Davison.

It was a dramatic collapse and brought Rhodesia right back into contention. But Procter’s men could have been well in control had their fielding been up to their usual standard.

Apart from the fearsome Procter, the most impressive bowler yesterday was the lumbering Gwelo farmer Richie Kaschula. He bowled 29 consecutive overs and finished with 2-71 in 31 overs, a tribute to the accuracy and effectiveness of his left-arm spin.

With a deficit of 22 to wipe out, the Rhodesian second innings began disastrously when Jimmy Mitchell – promoted because of the injury to Barbour – snicked the fourth ball of the first over from Jackman to Barlow at first slip.

Gripper was fortunate to survive a snick between gully and slips when he had made two, but he only made another six before sparring at a rising ball from Jackman to be taken by gully Morris.

Davison, with runs worth $4 each to him in this match through a syndicate at Salisbury Sports Club, played a couple of typically powerful and delightful strokes, was dropped at slip by Ackerman, and eventually fell leg-before to give the Surrey seamer Jackman his third wicket.

DON’T BLAME PROCTER: NO HOPE OF VICTORY

By Glen Byrom; Tuesday 22 February 1972

The A Section Currie Cup cricket match of high expectations, between Rhodesia and Western Province, fizzled out in a tame draw at the Salisbury Police Ground yesterday. But after 95 minutes’ play had been lost through rain immediately after lunch, it was the inevitable result.

Mike Procter declared Rhodesia’s second innings at 250-6, leaving Province the impossible task of making 229 in 130 minutes’ batting. He had no other choice, and when stumps were drawn half an hour before the scheduled close, Westerns had plodded to a yawn-provoking 68-2. It was a disappointing, though understandable, ending after a thoroughly good game of cricket between two finely-matched sides.

The pre-lunch session yesterday was crucial and if there was to be a winner then one side would have to be dominating at this stage. But the keen tussle between bat and ball persisted and by the break neither side had manoeuvred into a winning position. Rhodesia had scored 201-5, not nearly enough runs to enable a declaration.

Procter’s decision to bat on after the rain and not give Westerns a sporting chance of making the runs was criticized by some. I support his policy wholeheartedly. The time factor was against him . . . it just isn’t feasible to bowl out a talent-packed side like Westerns in under three hours. So why declare and give the opposition a chance when you are denying yourself any real hope?

Perhaps it was a sad ending, yet cricket’s cognoscenti will be feeling richly rewarded by an intriguing and tense match.

Rhodesia resumed at 85-3 yesterday and the smooth-stroking Stuart Robertson and hard-hitting Brian Barbour immediately looked for runs. The scoreboard clicked away happily for Rhodesia until Barbour tried to check a drive and hit a full toss straight back to off-spinner Richard Morris. Barbour’s 57 came in 100 minutes with seven crisply-struck boundaries. His partnership with Robertson was worth 95 runs.

While these two were together there was a glimmer of hope for an early Rhodesian declaration and a full tilt at the Westerns batsmen. But through accurate bowling and a fine defensive field placing, Robertson and Procter were kept in check.

Robertson’s innings was perhaps the highlight of the match. His strokes were classical and played with effortless ease and perfect timing. However, the many quick-run singles he and Barbour had stolen suddenly seemed to take their toll on his energy and he became bogged down to be bowled by Morris for 59 without offering a stroke.

So once again the freckle-faced Robertson failed to edge past his highest first-class score of 63, yet it is incredible that he has scored 12 half-centuries for Rhodesia in his four seasons.

Procter could not get his power shots flowing and his 46 in 115 minutes was not one of his better efforts, though his watchfulness denied Westerns a breakthrough at a crucial stage when two or three quick wickets would have turned the game their way. Procter was out dabbing a simple catch to Barlow at slip off Morne du Plessis, the tall seamer who is also the rugby Springbok.

Jackie du Preez notched an entertaining 47 not out before the declaration at 3.15. Rain had previously prevented play for 95 minutes after lunch.

The Province plod began at 3.30 and when play was abandoned 105 minutes later they had reached 68-2. Men out were Neville Budge, snapped up by Davison at suicidal short leg, and Barlow, leg-before trying to sweep Kaschula.

SPINNERS SHOULD GET A BETTER OPPORTUNITY

The Procter Column; Sunday Mail, 27 February 1972

For the first time this season fielding let Rhodesia down and some catches were put down which could have had a vital bearing on the game. A couple of the catches were very difficult but in A Section Currie Cup it is often the side that takes all its catches that wins. I dropped the easiest of the catches which I am sure would have made a big difference.

The ground fielding by both sides wasn’t particularly good, mainly because of the very uneven outfield, which was also very slow and often stopped certain fours. Eddie Barlow only hit four fours in his hundred, which must be some sort of a record for him.

Brian Barbour was very unfortunate to be hit on the cheek by a ball from Robin Jackman and although in a lot of pain he was quite prepared to go out and bat again. In the second innings he went in when we were in a little bit of trouble and batted with a good deal of determination and guts. Brian has certainly got what it takes and anything he may lack in his batting technique he more than makes up for with his coyrage and wonderful temperament.

It was a great pity that the rain came when it did on Monday, because it gave us little chance of bowling Western Province out had we declared. With a declaration, both sides must have a fair chance of winning, and to bowl Western Province out in under three hours on a beautiful batting wicket was definitely not ‘on’. They are the only ones who could have won the match.

The Natal match in Bulawayo should attract large crowds similar to the Western Province game. Barry Richards is an obvious attraction and he has been in tremendous batting form this season. The Rhodesian players remember his wonderful innings in Durban. We all certainly feel that he has more than used up his quota of runs against Rhodesia over the past few years.

They are not as strong a side as the one we played in Durban. Without Pat Trimborn in their attack they are a bit limited, and once big Vintcent van der Bijl has been seen off they have a pretty ordinary attack.

The Queens wicket has slowed down a lot over the past few seasons and we hope that we can get a good quick wicket which will enable positive cricket to be played. If the wicket can turn on the last day, so much the better. I feel that not enough wickets played on in Currie Cup matches give the spinners enough chance.

The only one that does in Cape Town and apart from that all the rest seem to get better and better for batting, which doesn’t help produce a result. Rather prepare a wicket which will help the spinners than a wicket which starts off a good batting wicket and gets better and assists nobody.

The Currie Cup is still very wide open and three or four sides have a chance, which makes the remaining games all the more interesting.