Rhodesian first-class cricket in 1977/78

Rhodesia improved slightly on their performance of the previous season but were still virtually unrecognisable as the talented young team of the early seventies. They had some good days and completed a fine victory over Natal at home, but again suffered from inconsistency and the effect the bush war was having on the players, most of whom had to serve spells with the army in addition to their regular jobs, and were frequently short of quality practice.

In their first two matches, played at home, Rhodesia largely held their own against the Eastern and Western Provinces, although they never looked likely to win either. As so often was the case, their Currie Cup tour down south brought poor results: heavy defeats against the Western and Eastern Provinces and defeat against Natal saved only by bad light, although they came close to beating Transvaal in one of their better displays. Fine bowling by Paddy Clift was followed by a determined century from Brian Barbour in a rather unexpected victory over Natal but, with typical inconsistency, they finished the season with a heavy defeat at the hands of Transvaal. Still, their one victory was enough to keep them off the bottom of the Currie Cup table.

Better batting was the main reason for the slight improvement. The consistency of the English professional Barry Dudleston was remarkable: he scored 678 runs during the season at an average of 45.20, including two centuries, and thus reached 1000 runs for Rhodesia in only 12 matches. Brian Davison had his best season for the country, scoring 527 runs (average 43.91), the only season in which he ever averaged 40 for Rhodesia in the A Section. Stuart Robertson, relieved of the wicket-keeping duties, returned to his usual consistent ways with 552 runs (average 39.42), in what was to be his last good season as a batsman. Jimmy Mitchell, also in his last successful season, showed admirable consistency as an opening batsman, although no major scores, and scored 353 runs at 25.21. Brian Barbour, now batting in the middle order with glasses and showing more restraint, returned to the team with success, particularly in the victory over Natal and the Gillette Cup final.

On the debit side, Jack Heron failed to regain his form, even when demoted to the B team, while the all-rounders Duncan Fletcher, Jackie du Preez and Paddy Clift made little contribution with the bat. With a tail consisting of Horton, Hogg and Kaschula, all of number eleven standard with the bat, this meant that Rhodesia had a very fragile tail. Tommy Dunk as opening batsman also failed to contribute much.

The bowling was seriously weakened by the absence of Clift, suffering from an injury sustained for Leicestershire during the 1977 county season, from all but the last two matches. The two Springbok spinners, du Preez and John Traicos, both lost form and their places in the team. The spin vacancy was filled by Richie Kaschula, returning after missing four seasons; he was not at his best, but took most wickets, 27, at a cost of 28.18. At a weight of 122 kilograms, though, he was a liability in the field. The pace attack was headed by Bernie Horton, in his last of three seasons in Rhodesia after emigrating from Zambia, who took 21 wickets at 30.85. He was backed up by Vince Hogg (16 wickets at 26.12) and Duncan Fletcher (20 wickets at 32.40). Apart from Clift on his return, no other bowler made much impact.

Gerald Peckover took over the wicket-keeping duties and actually scored 93 on his first-class debut, but never reached such heights again. The highlight of the season was undoubtedly Rhodesia's victory in the Datsun Shield, the knockout competition that replaced the Gillette Cup. In the end their triumph was decisive, but various circumstances throughout the competition almost reduced it to a farce at times. After an easy victory at home to Border in the first round, Rhodesia played Transvaal in Salisbury in the semi-final. The first match was abandoned due to rain during the afternoon, and replayed from the start on the second day, according to the competition rules. The second match lasted less than 28 overs before that too was abandoned, and according to the rules the result would be decided by drawing a name from a hat. The president of the SACU, Mr Rashid Varachia, was present, and he drew Rhodesia's name from the hat. There was considerable anger from Rhodesians when the SACU executive refused to accept Mr Varachia's decision and insisted on a re-draw. Once again Rhodesians felt that the South African authorities...

Thus Rhodesia reached the final for the first time, but looked likely to lose when reduced to 81 for five in reply to Eastern Province's 227 for eight. However, at this stage, Brian Barbour joined Brian Davison and the two, in an heroic partnership, took Rhodesia to the verge of victory without losing another wicket. At this point the umpires took the players off in very poor light, awarding the match to Rhodesia on a better runs/wicket ratio, but with Rhodesia needing only 12 to win off 22 balls they could scarcely have failed to win anyway.

Rhodesia B were finally awarded first-class status and included in the B Section, or Castle Bowl as it was now known. Their record of no victories against three defeats was illusive, as their two defeats at the hands of Natal B were by just two and four runs respectively. Three Test players appeared for the team during the season: du Preez, Traicos, and Peter Carlstein, recalled from retirement to add experience to the side.

CURRIE CUP TABLE, 1977/78
               Bonus Points
                           P      W     L     D     Bat    Bowl   Points
                                (10)
Western Province           8      4     1     3      28     33     101
Transvaal                  8      3     -     5      28     31      89
Eastern Province           8      1     2     5      24     23      57
RHODESIA                   8      1     3     4      14     27      51
Natal                      8      -     3     5      12     26      38

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 5, 6, 7 November. EASTERN PROVINCE 308/7 dec (S J Bezuidenhout 75, R G Pollock 134, K P Reid 35; R H Kaschula 3/88) and 357/5 dec (S J Bezuidenhout 53, C P Wilkins 34, K S McEwan 64, R G Pollock 120*, D J Brickett 46). RHODESIA 372/8 dec (B Dudleston 58, G E Peckover 93, S D Robertson 57, B F Davison 86; W K Watson 4/73) and 62/2. Match drawn.

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 11, 12, 13 November. RHODESIA 160 (B Dudleston 36, B F Davison 33, J H du Preez 37*; R A le Roux 5/29) and 335/8 dec (J G Heron 35, B Dudleston 98, S D Robertson 49, B F Davison 100*). WESTERN PROVINCE 266 (P N Kirsten 87, H M Ackerman 83, P D Swart 38, S A Jones 36; R H Kaschula 3/71) and 28/0. Match drawn. At Port Elizabeth; 26, 27, 28 December. EASTERN PROVINCE 239 (R G Pollock 49, G S Cowley 83; B Horton 3/68, R H Kaschula 4/44) and 330/8 dec (R G Pollock 190*, D J Brickett 70; V R Hogg 3/52). RHODESIA 269 (J C Mitchell 61, B Dudleston 118, S D Robertson 30; M J Macaulay 5/80) and 90 (W K Watson 3/38, M J Macaulay 6/36). Eastern Province won by 210 runs.

At Durban; 31 December, 1, 2 January. RHODESIA 159 (B Dudleston 58; V A P van der Bijl 8/56) and 168 (B Dudleston 35, G E Peckover 33; V A P van der Bijl 4/53, A R Lilley 5/48). NATAL 289/8 dec (B S Groves 37, H R Fotheringham 119, D Bestall 43, M B Madsen 33; B Horton 3/85, V R Hogg 5/89) and 35/2. Match drawn.

At Cape Town; 27, 28, 30 January. RHODESIA 202 (S D Robertson 37, B F Davison 36; D L Hobson 6/49) and 259 (J C Mitchell 35, T W Dunk 78, S D Robertson 74; G S le Roux 3/68, R E T Morris 5/44). WESTERN PROVINCE 372 (M J Nel 86, R A Drummond 76, P N Kirsten 40, H M Ackerman 37, J D du Toit 41; B Horton 3/61, R H Kaschula 6/124) and 92/2 (R A Drummond 30*, H M Ackerman 38*). Western Province won by eight wickets.

At Johannesburg; 3, 4, 6 February. RHODESIA 340/6 dec (J C Mitchell 38, S D Robertson 98, B F Davison 82, B D Barbour 51*) and 312/8 dec (J C Mitchell 34, T W Dunk 47, B F Davison 91, G E Peckover 35, D A G Fletcher 51; P D de Vaal 4/78). TRANSVAAL 355/7 dec (D D Dyer 111, L J Barnard 106, C E B Rice 71; R H Kaschula 3/96) and 171/8 (S J Cook 32, N T Day 60; B Horton 3/54). Match drawn.

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 11, 12, 13 February. NATAL 292/9 dec (A Barrow 55, B S Groves 33, H R Fotheringham 72, A J S Smith 33, M B Madsen 41*, V A P van der Bijl 33; R H Kaschula 3/86) and 143 (H R Fotheringham 35; D A G Fletcher 3/37, P B Clift 6/36). RHODESIA 239/8 dec (J C Mitchell 59, G E Peckover 30, B F Davison 46; C Wulfsohn 3/30, J F Steele 3/59) and 197/4 (J C Mitchell 43, B D Barbour 102*). Rhodesia won by six wickets.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 4, 5, 6 March. RHODESIA 159 (B Dudleston 38; C E B Rice 3/39) and 277 (B Dudleston 132, S D Robertson 48). TRANSVAAL 340 (S J Cook 84, C E B Rice 38, K A McKenzie 46, A J Kourie 84*, D R Neilson 35; V R Hogg 3/70, D A G Fletcher 4/89) and 98/2 (D D Dyer 49*, C E B Rice 32*). Transvaal won by eight wickets.

DATSUN SHIELD (60 overs)

At East London, 22 October. BORDER 142/7 (31 overs) (G W Nelson 59; B Horton 4/42). RHODESIA 144/2 (J G Heron 66, B Dudleston 54*). Rhodesia won by eight wickets in a match reduced by rain to 31 overs.

(Semi-Final) At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 14 January. RHODESIA 171/5 dec (51 overs) (J C Mitchell 60, B Dudleston 36; R C Ontong 3/45). TRANSVAAL 37/0 (18 overs). Match drawn -- rain.

(Semi-Final replay) At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 15 January. RHODESIA 72/2 (27.5 overs) (B Dudleston 37*) v TRANSVAAL. Match drawn -- rain. Rhodesia declared winners on the drawing of lots.

(Final) At Johannesburg; 11 March. EASTERN PROVINCE 227/8 (60 overs) (C P Wilkins 43, R G Pollock 36, A L Wilmot 43; D A G Fletcher 3/47). RHODESIA 216/5 (56.2 overs) (B F Davison 102*, B D Barbour 57*). Rhodesia won on a better runs/wicket ratio.

RHODESIA B CASTLE BOWL MATCHES (first-class)

CASTLE BOWL TABLE (NORTHERN SECTION), 1977/78
               Bonus Points
                           P      W     L     D     Bat    Bowl   Points
                                (10)
Transvaal B                4      3     -     1      13     16      59
Natal B                    4      2     2     -       3     14      37
RHODESIA B                 4      -     3     1       5     10      15

At Lenasia; 11, 12, 14 November. RHODESIA B 164 (T W Dunk 43; D S van der Knaap 5/37) and 296 (C B Thorn 53, T W Dunk 74, R M Ervine 33; R P Hanley 3/44, D S van der Knaap 3/92). TRANSVAAL B 465/5 dec (W R Kerr 47, R V Jennings 168, C G Stephens 150*, M van Wyk 60*; D H Streak 3/113). Transvaal B won by an innings and 5 runs.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 26, 27, 28 November. NATAL B 293/1 dec (M G Matthews 145*, K N Hosken 122*) and 199/8 dec (A A Hipkin 31, N H Harvey 63; J C Mitchell 6/68). RHODESIA 231/8 dec (P R Carlstein 50, B D Barbour 86, A J Traicos 38; D K Pearse 5/29) and 259 (J C Mitchell 42, T W Dunk 34, B D Barbour 82, A J Traicos 43; J S Muil 3/107, N H Harvey 5/106). Natal B won by 2 runs.

At Salisbury Sports Club; 21, 22, 23 January. TRANSVAAL B 352/9 dec (S J Cook 146, R V Jennings 36, C G Stephens 63; J A Carse 3/89, D H Streak 4/81) and 148/6 dec (S J Cook 35, R V Jennings 38, A J Kourie 32*, C P Stephens 33; A J Traicos 4/50). RHODESIA B 213 (C B Thorn 33, P D Wallace 49, M S Hogge 34; A J Kourie 7/68) and 112/3 (C B Thorn 49, R D Brown 36). Match drawn.

At Pinetown; 11, 12, 13 February. NATAL B 151 (F B Hill 62; V R Hogg 3/39, J H du Preez 3/59) and 185 (A A Hipkin 58; V R Hogg 4/59, J H du Preez 5/75). RHODESIA B 212 (J G Heron 59, R D Brown 30, M H Gibb 34; J S Muil 4/70) and 120 (P D Wallace 43, J H du Preez 36; D J Morgan 3/23, I Ebrahim 3/19). Natal B won by 4 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 1978/79