At St George's Park, Port Elizabeth; 1, 3, 4 January 1966.

Saturday 1 January 1966

BLAND AND FRANGOS HOLD KEY TO TODAY'S GAME

>From Len Brown (Port Elizabeth, Friday)

Rhodesia make only one change from the successful side which won outright at Newlands earlier this week, for their match against Eastern Province starting here tomorrow. John McPhun drops out and is replaced by Rob Ullyett, with young Peter Swart retaining the job of twelfth man.

The reintroduction of Ullyett for this game could be in the nature of a psychological move, after that first-class century he made against Eastern Province up in Salisbury last month.

To date on this tour neither he nor McPhun have shown anything like their true form, but of the two McPhun in the second innings at Cape Town was just beginning to collar the bowling of bogeyman John Cole when he was unluckily out.

A big score in that innings could have left the tour selectors here in something of a quandary. As it is, it could be a wise move bringing Ullyett back for this game, provided he gets instructions to get out there in the middle and play his normal attacking game.

This was what he did in Salisbury against fast bowler Peter Pollock, and it paid handsome dividends.

For the rest, the side could not be changed at this stage of the tour, with Joe Partridge bowling better and better each time out.

The team had one of the most strenuous workouts I have ever seen this morning at nets - it lasted three hours and covered all phases of batting, bowling, and at least an hour's hectic fielding under the supervision of a determined Colin Bland.

Bland and Frangos could well hold the key to this match with their aggressive batting. Frangos has been in form all the while and has been unluckily out on a couple of occasions.

Both he and Bland batted extraordinarily well this morning on pitches which were taking spin, and left the pacemen bowling at half-cock.

I think Bland is in one of those moods for this match which could turn the scales - we all hope so here.

I am assured by local officials that this pitch is as good as the one for the Fifth Test against the MCC last summer, which means there could be lots of runs for those prepared to get out and attack the bowlers.

And with bowlers of the calibre of Pollock, Hector, Partridge and Lawrence on view, that could make for one of the most entertaining matches of the whole Currie Cup series.

The Rhodesians have voluntarily decided that traditional New Year's Eve celebrations are 'out' tonight and most will be relaxing in their hotel or going to the cinema with early to bed the unwritten law for all.

I have never seen this team so well knit - or determined. And I've never known such team spirit in a Rhodesian side.

Play starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m. on all three days.

Sunday 2 January 1966 (Sunday Mail)

PARKER SWINGS GAME IN TWO OVERS

>From Len Brown (Port Elizabeth, Saturday)

The Rhodesian bowlers fought back splendidly to dismiss Eastern Province for a reasonable first innings total of 272 here on the first day of their Currie Cup match after a first-wicket stand of 148 between skipper Eddie Barlow and wicket-keeper John Harty had promised something of a mammoth total.

On this well-grassed but seemingly slow pitch, it was a purple patch of six overs by pace bowler Eddie Parker shortly after lunch which started the slide.

Parker stepped into the breach when Partridge had a recurrence of his groin injury just before lunch and did not bowl again today.

Parker produced just about his best spell to date for Rhodesia. It was a most timely one in view of the circumstances and he was capably backed up by a Godfrey Lawrence who himself wasn't all that fit, suffering from an upset stomach.

In fact, he was violently sick twice out in the middle, but at the end was still bowling with fire and determination.

It was a great effort by the Rhodesian bowlers, including David Pithey, and they were brilliantly backed up in the field with four smart catches by jack du Preez and some grand outfielding, particularly by Bland, Gripper and skipper Tony Pithey.

In the 25 minutes left for play Rhodesia were five for no wicket.

This was an extraordinary Eastern Province innings after that admirable first wicket stand had been broken when Harty swung across a ball from David Pithey and was leg-before wicket.

There followed something of a collapse and when Gradwell and Biggs came together for the seventh wicket six wickets had fallen in 45 minutes for the addition of only 32 runs.

These two youngsters then added 40 valuable runs before there came a minor collapse, with the last four wickets adding only 52 runs.

But back to that opening stand. There were even regular supporters of Province who raised their eyebrows when Barlow brought out wicket-keeper Harty to open the innings. Harty has played some valuable knocks for his Province, but only as a lower order batsman. Today he did a grand job. Maybe the Rhodesian bowlers played into his hands in that they attacked his leg stump, and Harty has very few off-side shots.

His was a slow innings to be sure - he scored only 18 runs in two hours - but he was still there at lunch with the total on 133 Barlow 85, Harty 45.

But what a change there was after lunch. With the score on 146 Pithey removed Harty and then the fun started.

In two overs, Parker changed the complexion of the game. He had Graeme Pollock beautifully caught at second slip by du Preez, had Mallett held by Lawrence at first slip next ball, and with the second ball of his next over had Wilmot again beautifully caught by du Preez.

Then Lawrence bowled Barlow, whose 111 had included 14 crashing fours and a six and lasted 260 minutes.

With the total at 180 for six it became imperative to rest Parker and Lawrence before the new ball arrived as both were just about on their knees with this grand after lunch spell.

David Pithey relieved Parker, who promptly caught Ulyate first ball at first slip.

The new ball was taken immediately after tea with Parker and Lawrence in operation.

Lawrence bowled Biggs and two overs later du Preez accepted his third catch at leg gully to get Peter Pollock. And after Gradwell had hoisted Parker over the square leg fence there was some fine running between wickets before the side was eventually out.

Monday 3 January 1966

RHODESIAN BOWLERS JUSTIFY PITHEY'S GAMBLE

>From Len Brown (Port Elizabeth, Sunday)

For a long while here yesterday it looked as though Rhodesian skipper Tony Pithey had blundered in sending Eastern Province in to bat after winning the toss on the opening day of their Currie Cup cricket match.

While the bowlers were battling determinedly but unsuccessfully to break that stubborn opening partnership between Eddie Barlow and Province wicket-keeper John Harty there were those Rhodesian supporters shaking their heads at Pithey's decision.

Frankly, had I been in his position, I would have done exactly as Pithey did. This pitch had more grass on it than I have seen on any Currie Cup pitch in a dozen years.

There was a stiff cross wind blowing and the clouds were low and heavy - ideal conditions for Joe Partridge and in his opening spell Partridge probably bowled batter than he has done all season. It was the sort of bowling which would have had a great batsman like Graeme Pollock in dire straits. It was bowling wasted on Harty who pushed his left foot down the pitch, played dead bat to almost every ball and was lucky not to get within six inches of some real late swinging fizzers.

It was an innings which I doubt he will ever be able to repeat and it had the Rhodesians tearing their hair in frustration.

That purple patch of six overs by Eddie Parker put the whole trend of the Eastern Province innings back in perspective - and vindicated Pithey's decision to the hilt.

With Partridge unable to take the field after lunch - the injury is not to his groin as at first feared but to a muscle just under the hip bone and there are hopes he will be able to bowl again in this match - the burden yesterday afternoon fell on the willing shoulders of Lawrence and Parker.

Lawrence was suffering from an upset stomach and was violently ill several times out in the field, but he refused to come off or give the ball to anyone else. His was a grand exhibition of courage.

Parker has never bowled better for Rhodesia and his performance yesterday highlights a remark made at Newlands by Western Province batsman Morby-Smith who claimed he had had more difficulty facing Parker than any other bowler all season.

Another who has done a fine job on this tour to date is young Jackie du Preez. In a cricketing sense he has grown tremendously during the past two weeks and his close-to-the-wicket catching, his bagging of the odd wicket just when needed and his attacking approach with the bat, as exemplified at Newlands when Rhodesia were struggling, had made him just about the complete all-rounder.

Another who is proving a grand tourist is David Pithey. He is in pain with sore back muscles - it could be a touch of rheumatism but he has never once shirked any job which he has done and he has certainly improved his stature enormously in comparison to the other off-spinners we have met on this trip.

Batsmen in all three provinces that Rhodesia have played so far are quite blunt in their assessments that Pithey is the best off-spinner in Southern Africa.

The team will be hoping for a solid start tomorrow by Gripper and Frangos in their quest for those 273 runs needed to top Province's total.

The weather is hot today with a bit of a breeze blowing and the prospect of rain within the next few days is discounted. With the wicket and outfield due to be cut afresh tomorrow morning this could leave the advantage still with the batsmen.

Tuesday 4 January 1966

PETER POLLOCK STRIKES - AND RHODESIA TRAIL OF 1st INNINGS

>From Len Brown (Port Elizabeth, Monday)

Rhodesia today waged a dour struggle for runs against a fine Eastern Province attack and grand fielding on a pitch which had been refreshed as it were by early morning drizzle and later a stoppage for rain which lasted another 80 minutes before lunch. Rhodesia were all out for 236, Partridge being caught off the second last ball of the day with Rhodesia 36 runs behind on first innings.

Batting heroes for Rhodesia today wee David Pithey and Eddie Parker, whose sixth-wicket stand of 68 in 107 minutes just when the bowlers looked like running through the batting order enabled Rhodesia to get within striking distance of the Province total.

Springbok pace bowler Peter Pollock was wrecker-in-chief of the Rhodesian batting. Under ideal conditions for seamers he attacked the stumps consistently, moved the odd ball sharply off the seam and varied his pace and the use of the crease cleverly.

It was first-class bowling backed up by some fine overs by his skipper, Eddie Barlow, and the admirable seamer Alan Hector.

The game started 20 minutes late because of the strong persistent drizzle, and after half an hour the players had to leave the field again.

But in that short 30 minutes it was plainly evident that the moisture had freshened up the grass on this pitch and that it was going to be a seam bowler's dream. Peter Pollock, bowling quicker than he did in Salisbury, got lift off a length, and Alan Hector was swinging the ball prodigiously at times.

It was in this period Hector had Frangos leg before wicket offering no shot to a ball that swung from away outside the off stump and would have hit the leg stump.

In the period between lunch and tea the Rhodesians became slightly bogged down against the keen attack and excellent fielding. They scored only 81 runs for the loss of three wickets - Gripper, Tony Pithey and Bland - and the frustrating thing about it all was that all three seemed to be just getting into their stride, as was Ullyett, when they were out.

Both Gripper and Pithey got balls from Pollock which came back sharply off the pitch and they were bowled.

Bland was the unlucky one. He played a courageous innings today going for his shots as only he can from the very first ball and although he lofted a couple dangerously near the fielders this was a risk he was prepared to accept.

Pollock was peppering both him and Tony Pithey with bumpers, but both kept their heads and refused to swing wildly.

Bland was finally given out caught at the wicket after a somewhat ragged appeal for a catch to a wide ball from Barlow. It transpired later he had hit his pad in getting his bat out of the line.

Then came that determined sixth wicket stand between David Pithey and Eddie Parker which put a much rosier complexion on the innings for Rhodesia.

Parker played his best innings ever, not only in terms of runs scored, but in the manner in which he went about the job. Probably his best shot was a thundering six into the grandstand off off-spinner Jon Dumbrill.

He and du Preez had a merry little partnership, but the advent of Peter Pollock and the new ball proved too much for the tail-enders.

The Rhodesians feel this game is not yet over - and I am inclined to agree with them. If this pitch stays as green as this there could be some hectic moments for batsmen tomorrow.

Wednesday 5 January 1966

RHODESIA SLUMP TO OUTRIGHT DEFEAT BY E.P.

>From Len Brown (Port Elizabeth, Tuesday)

Eastern Province's outright victory over Rhodesia here today, clinched with the third ball of what might have been the last over of the match, opens up the Currie Cup log considerably, with Eastern Province having 12 points out of a possible 24 and Rhodesia 11 out of a possible 30.

The last day today was one for bowlers rather than batsmen, with Rhodesia coming back into the picture this morning and early this afternoon by dismissing the strong Eastern Province batting side, with several missed chances in the process, for a mere 159 runs.

This left Rhodesia to score 196 in 164 minutes for outright victory.

The challenge was too much for Rhodesia, who were all back in the pavilion for only 129.

Bowling honours went to Hector with four wickets, Peter Pollock and Mallett two each, and Barlow and Dumbrill one each.

With about fifteen minutes to go, there were only seven Rhodesian wickets down before Barlow astutely brought on Mallett and Dumbrill.

Mallett got de Caila to edge a ball into the slips where the catch was snapped up by Biggs. Dumbrill also had David Pithey caught in the slips by Graeme Pollock.

Fielders crowded round Lawrence in what might have been the last over of the match and the third ball from Mallett he snicked into Harty's pads for the Eastern Province keeper to hold on to the ball as though his life depended on it.

The morning play was notable for some particularly accurate bowling by both Lawrence and Partridge. Both unsettled the Eastern Province batsmen, none of whom really got into his stride.

Missed chances allied to well varied attack, used shrewdly by Barlow, cost Rhodesia the match.

Contributed by John Ward