Rhodesian first-class cricket in 1954/55

Captain: David Lewis

Once again Rhodesia finished second in the B Section of the Currie Cup, with a familiar record of three outright victories against two defeats. This time the winners were Eastern Province, who earned their promotion back to the A Section.

They began the season with two big outright victories at home, including one over Eastern Province. Rain probably prevented a third victory, over Griqualand West, when play was possible only on the third day and enterprising captaincy by David Lewis enabled Rhodesia at least to take a first-innings lead. But on tour they lost by an innings to Eastern Province and were then narrowly defeated by Border; had the result gone the other way, Rhodesia would have finished equal first in the B Section table. A big victory followed against Griqualand West.

There were some outstanding individual averages at the conclusion of the season, which should have made it clear that the team was really too good for the B Section -- the problem was simply the confidence to compete at the higher level. Five batsmen averaged more than 50: Percy Mansell (427 runs @ 61.00), Johnny Wallace (238 @ 59.50), Marshall Davies and David Lewis (both 353 @ 58.83) and Tony Pithey (350 @ 50.00). Three bowlers also returned notable averages: Bruce McBride, in his final season for Rhodesia (13 wickets @ 13.84), Percy Mansell (27 @ 16.55) and Joe Partridge (34 @ 21.76). Against Griqualand West Mansell fell just short of a notable double, scoring a century and taking nine wickets.

Chris Duckworth, who had had experience with Natal, made his debut for Rhodesia this season. He did not have a very good record and kept wicket in only one match, but was selected for the 1955 tour of England, along with Mansell, as a reserve wicket-keeper who was also a promising batsman. Cecil Harris, the regular wicket-keeper, was playing his final season.

CURRIE CUP TABLE (SECTION B), 1954/55

                                     Double       Single
                                      Inns         Inns   
                          Played   Won  Lost    Won  Lost   Points
                                   (6)          (3)   (1)
Eastern Province             6      4     1      1     -      27
RHODESIA                     6      3     2      1     -      21
Border                       6      3     3      -     -      18
North-Eastern Transvaal      6      2     3      -     1      13
Griqualand West              6      1     4      -     1       7

At Salisbury Sports Club; 20, 21 November. NORTH-EASTERN TRANSVAAL 147 (A Dennis 48; J T Partridge 3/24, B J McBride 3/44) and 155 (R Richardson 33, D J Drake 30; P N F Mansell 5/36). RHODESIA 442/5 dec (J H A Wallace 109, D J Lewis 170*, P N F Mansell 72, M W Davies 56*). Rhodesia won by an innings and 140 runs.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 4, 5, 6 December. EASTERN PROVINCE 265 (G F Dakin 41, L Long 66, B Bradfield 50; J T Partridge 3/121, B J McBride 6/45) and 95 (J T Partridge 3/30, P N F Mansell 5/25). RHODESIA 347 (J H A Wallace 91, A J Pithey 77, P N F Mansell 51, M W Davies 53; A R A Murray 3/114) and 14/1. Rhodesia won by nine wickets.

At Salisbury Sports Club; 11, 12, 13 December. RHODESIA 138/2 dec (J H A Wallace 35, C A R Duckworth 61, A J Pithey 34*) and 7/3. GRIQUALAND WEST 128 (B A Goble 73; J T Partridge 3/30, D C Napier 4/39). Match drawn.

At Port Elizabeth; 27, 28, 29 December. EASTERN PROVINCE 422 (G F Dakin 81, A R A Murray 126, A H McKinnon 49; P N F Mansell 4/128). RHODESIA 157 (D J Lewis 34, C Harris 39, W B Hitzeroth 36; A G Blenkinsop 3/38, A R A Murray 4/57) and 148 (D O'Connell-Jones 79; A H McKinnon 4/24, H B Birrell 3/38). Eastern Province won by an innings and 117 runs.

At East London; 1, 3, 4 January. BORDER 387 (O C Dawson 139, K N Kirton 124; J T Partridge 8/124) and 269/6 dec (O C Dawson 72, K N Kirton 56*, D Fenner 57; J T Partridge 3/119). RHODESIA 316 (D J Lewis 69, P N F Mansell 131, M W Davies 43; E F Schreiber 4/123) and 332 (D O'Connell-Jones 38, A J Pithey 112, P N F Mansell 54, M W Davies 45; S Knott 3/92, O C Dawson 5/124). Border won by 8 runs.

At Kimberley; 7, 8 January. RHODESIA 471 (D O'Connell-Jones 46, A J Pithey 97, P N F Mansell 111, M W Davies 133, R W Coventry 35; C English 4/48). GRIQUALAND WEST 95 (J T Partridge 4/29, P N F Mansell 5/35) and 228 (R L Gloak 69, D Lee 67; J T Partridge 4/87, P N F Mansell 4/64). Rhodesia won by an innings and 148 runs.

It is intended in the future to produce full scorecards, and also much more information about all cricket in Rhodesia during this season. At present, the next entry in this section is for 1955/56