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Rhodesian first-class cricket in 1951/52Captains:
Ronnie
Hayes (1) and
Dave
Rees (5)
This was the first
season in which the South African
Currie Cup was divided into two
sections. The first four teams of
1950/51 were placed in the A
Section, while Rhodesia, as one
of the remaining five teams,
played in the B Section.
Competition in the B Section was
very close, and Rhodesia finished
only one point behind the
winners, Orange Free State, who
were duly promoted to the A
Section for 1952/53.
Rhodesia made a poor
start to the season: in the first
three matches they were defeated
outright twice, although rain
prevented a probable victory over
Griqualand West. Then came three
victories to finish the season,
two by considerable margins and
the third a close match against
Orange Free State in
Bloemfontein. Free State, needing
310 to win, were 243/4 at one
stage before the bowlers, led by
Percy Mansell, broke through. The
Rhodesians had at last found
their confidence, although it
took much longer when faced with
A Section opposition.
Again, Percy Mansell
had a superb season, almost
completing the double of 500 runs
and 50 wickets in just six
matches for Rhodesia; however,
two trial matches in preparation
for the following season's tour
to Australia and New Zealand took
him to that achievement. For
Rhodesia alone, he scored 485
runs (average 48.50) and took 49
wickets (the next best aggregate
being 21) at 16.37 each.
David Lewis (414
runs at an average of 51.75)
finished top of the batting
averages on his return from
Oxford University, to play his
first full season for the
country. Also averaging over 40
was Johnny Wallace, with 518 runs
at 43.16. Johnny Roothman batted
consistently throughout the
season, his lowest score being 17
and his aggregate 388 at an
average of 38.80. Cecil Harris
had an excellent season, scoring
his maiden century against Orange
Free State and, as wicket-keeper,
dismissing 30 batsmen in the six
matches (25 caught, 5
stumped).
Of the successful
spinners of the previous season,
Peter Johnson played in only one
match and Allen Carew not at all.
Apart from Mansell, who at times
carried the attack almost
single-handed, Charles Wooler,
the local boy who had just
completed three seasons playing
for Leicestershire, was the only
bowler to make much impact, with
21 wickets at 26.13. Johnny
Leibbrandt was rather
disappointing in his final
season, but off-spinner Peter
Anderson showed promise, before
deciding to opt for a business
career.
But there were
better things to come in the
future, even if it was not
immediately recognised. In the
final match, Joe Partridge made
his first appearance of what was
to be a long and distinguished
career for Rhodesia.
CURRIE CUP TABLE (SECTION B), 1951/52
Double Single
Inns Inns
Played Won Lost Won Lost Points
(6) (3) (1)
Orange Free State 6 3 1 1 1 22
RHODESIA 6 3 2 1 - 21
Border 6 2 3 - 1 13
North-Eastern Transvaal 6 2 3 - 1 13
Griqualand West 6 1 2 2 1 13
At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 24, 25, 26 November. ORANGE FREE STATE 298 (K J Funston 85, J R Liddle 31, L R Tuckett 36, D G Reimer 36*; P N F Mansell 5/107) and 314 (L B Koch 48, S L Hanson 62, I E Kirby 56, J R Liddle 77; C R D Wooler 4/57, P H Anderson 3/100). RHODESIA 313 (J M S Baldwin 39, J H A Wallace 138, P N F Mansell 71; J R Liddle 7/97) and 244 (C Harris 114, J M Leibbrandt 54; J R Liddle 5/115). Orange Free State won by 55 runs. At Salisbury Sports Club; 1, 3, 4 December. RHODESIA 258 (J M S Baldwin 50, J H A Wallace 60, J B Roothman 34, J M Leibbrandt 36; J W Robinson 4/71, J E Waddington 3/82) and 248/7 dec (J M S Baldwin 36, P N F Mansell 79; J W Robinson 3/38). GRIQUALAND WEST 112 (D H Buckley 32; P H Anderson 3/12, P N F Mansell 4/33) and 42/1. Match drawn. At East London; 24, 26, 27 December. BORDER 333 (H S Lacey 44, O C Dawson 9I6, K N Kirton 53, D Fenner 41, S Knott 46; P N F Mansell 6/91, J M Buchanan 3/97) and 257 (C Kirton 71, O C Dawson 47, A W Hicks 47; P N F Mansell 7/114). RHODESIA 211 (D W Rees 40, M W Davies 61; W R Chalmers 5/47) and 236 (J B Roothman 33, D J Lewis 58, P N F Mansell 51; W R Chalmers 4/71, H Whitfield 4/110). Border won by 143 runs. At Pretoria; 31 December, 1, 2 January. NORTH-EASTERN TRANSVAAL 210 (J H M Pickerill 35, A Dennis 76; P N F Mansell 7/71) and 325 (J Pickerill 143, H V Paton 67, B A L Wiles 62; C R D Wooler 3/80, J M Leibbrandt 3/55, P N F Mansell 3/79). RHODESIA 328 (J B Roothman 99, P N F Mansell 94*, J M Leibbrandt 31; L D Vlok 3/74, B A L Wiles 6/90) and 209/4 (J H A Wallace 81, D J Lewis 50*, D W Rees 31). Rhodesia won by six wickets. At Bloemfontein; 5, 7, 8 January. RHODESIA 346 (J H A Wallace 30, J B Roothman 87, P N F Mansell 80, M W Davies 42, D W Rees 44; J R Liddle 4/104) and 215 (D J Lewis 90; L R Tuckett 6/89). ORANGE FREE STATE 252 (L B Koch 95, J R Liddle 43; C R D Wooler 4/70) and 275 (S L Hanson 50, R C le Sueur 70, K J Funston 69; P N F Mansell 6/117). Rhodesia won by 34 runs. At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 12, 13, 14 January. RHODESIA 255 (J H A Wallace 39, D J Lewis 59, P N F Mansell 48, D W Rees 34; R Beesly 6/47) and 291 (J H A Wallace 100, D J Lewis 100*; W R Chalmers 4/69). BORDER 123 (D Fenner 37; P N F Mansell 3/45, P E Johnson 3/19) and 185 (G C Fuller 31, D Kemp 46; C R D Wooler 4/34, P N F Mansell 5/46). Rhodesia won by 238 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 1952/53 |
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