EASTERN PROVINCE EXPECTED TO WIN (Port Elizabeth, Thursday)

Friday 9 December 1966

Having led both Natal and Transvaal on the first innings in Currie Cup matches this season, and after thoroughly extending the Australians, Eastern Province should start as firm favourites to beat Rhodesia in their Currie Cup match beginning at St George's Park here tomorrow.

Rhodesia, without a point in the competition so far, have not shown the form of recent seasons and need a victory badly to avoid finishing at the bottom of the A Section log.

Eastern Province's batting looks strong, despite some uncertainty at the top of the order, and it is expected that Graeme Pollock, Lorrie Wilmot, Peter Fenix and Peter van der Merwe, all century makers this season, will lead the run making.

Where the attack is concerned, Springbok Peter Pollock will prove a formidable opponent for the Rhodesians.

For Rhodesia, the lack of form by Colin Bland is a source of constant worry and it is hoped that he will take this opportunity to reassure the national selectors of his prowess.

DU PREEZ'S CENTURY WAS MASTERPIECE (Port Elizabeth, Friday)

Saturday 10 December 1966

Today was Rhodesia's brightest cricket day of the season and they owed their happy position at the end of the first day of their Currie Cup match against Eastern Province mainly to a record Rhodesian partnership for the fourth wicket of 210 runs in even time between Tony Pithey and Jackie du Preez. Rhodesia were finally all out for 311 at the close.

One wonders what thoughts went through the mind of Arthur Coy, convenor of the South African selection panel, as du Preez, coming in at 52 for three, moved along with ever-growing confidence and an array of handsome strokes to his first century in first-class cricket.

For it is as a leg-spinner that du Preez's claims for Springbok recognition have been pressed in various quarters. Du Preez's batting form this season entitles him to be accepted as a genuine all-rounder.

Du Preez, at 68, gave one extremely difficult chance to Peter van der Merwe at deep mid-off - it would have been a miraculous catch - but otherwise gave an immaculate display of square-cutting, cover-driving and sweeping.

He completely overshadowed Pithey and gave not the slightest suggestion that he would be dismissed for less than 100.

Pithey's innings was a curious mixture. He stayed on four for 75 minutes and then almost sped along into the 30s.

A few more quiet spells followed with Pithey quite content to allow runs to come when the bowlers offered them. He should have reached a century but probably had himself to blame for not getting one.

For the rest the greatest joy came from Colin Bland, whose 37 was a little gem of an innings. Five of the six boundaries he hit off Alan Hector were glorious shots.

There is obviously nothing much wrong with Bland's batting form. He played a slightly uppish shot to midwicket off Hector and Peter Pollock, who had wandered in a little, scooped up a catch.

The Province bowling toiled away on an easy-paced wicket after removing the opening pair Frangos and Wallace.

Bland partly restored the position for Rhodesia but it was the du Preez-Pithey stand that dominated the game till well after tea.

The value of the partnership was emphasised when a former Rhodesian, Gordon Den, the left-arm medium pacer, took four wickets for 12 runs in the space of three overs.

Late in the day the lanky Howie Gardiner hit with power and discretion, but finally succumbed to give Den his fifth wicket and Peter Pollock finished the innings at 311.

RHODESIA BATSMEN CRUMBLE AGAIN (Port Elizabeth, Saturday)

Sunday Mail, 11 December 1966

The Rhodesian cricket team are in serious trouble - again. Their timid batting failed once more this afternoon in their A Section cc match against Eastern Province at the Crusader Ground [presumably an unaccountable misprint], and as a result yet another defeat looms in sight.

They lost five second innings wickets for 86 runs, and now they only have a lead of 97 with but half their wickets standing.

Graeme Pollock, that great Province and Springbok left-hander, hit a splendid 134 today and therefore did much to put Rhodesia in this dire trouble.

But the truth of the matter is that Tony Pithey's batsmen were woefully weak - as they have been all season - and if the Rhodesians lose they have no one to blame but themselves.

This morning's story was one of a fight for the first innings lead. Overnight Rhodesia, thanks to that fine 112 from Jack du Preez, made 311.

Province lost early wickets, then the great Pollock came in to restore some semblance of respectability to the innings.

Pollock batted less than three hours for his 134 with three sixes and 12 fours.

For long spells he batted watchfully against leg-spinner du Preez and the remarkably accurate off-spinner Neville Deudney. It was not until the last man Gordon Den came in that Pollock let himself go, and he hammered Joe Partridge with the new ball straight over his head for two sixes in one over.

He ran out of partners, however, and Rhodesia went in a second time with a shaky lead of a mere 11.

But Rhodesia were soon in trouble again, and Nick Frangos (9) and John Wallace (0) were again out cheaply. Colin Bland didn't last, hitting too soon at an on-drive to give Burton an easy catch.

When Tony Pithey went to a diving catch by wicket-keeper Colling, Rhodesia were in trouble, but du Preez is still there and holding the side together.

Du Preez, the Rhodesian all-rounder, looked like Springbok material in all three departments in this match. His 112 yesterday was a fine innings and his bowling today was tidy. He certainly tied Graeme Pollock up.

An appeal against the light was made by Rhodesia, but after conferring, the umpires decided to carry on with play. This appeal was made five minutes before the scheduled close.

DU PREEZ LOOKED AN ACCOMPLISHED CRICKETER (Port Elizabeth, Sunday)

Monday 12 December 1966

Though they scraped an exciting 11-run win over Eastern Province on the second day of their Currie Cup cricket match in St George's Park yesterday, Rhodesia are by no means in a comfortable position.

Their overall lead of 97 runs with half the side out in the second innings leaves them with a lot of hard graft to do on the third and last day.

Colin Bland and Tony Pithey are back in the stand and Jackie du Preez and Ian Haig remain their big hopes. And even du Preez was lucky to see the day out as he was dropped in the gully just before the close.

Du Preez has nevertheless looked a very accomplished cricketer in this game. His 112 in the first innings was enterprising, forceful and talented, and his three wickets for 112 represented a far more worthy bowling performance than the figures suggest.

In the field he showed splendid anticipation. If du Preez failed to impress Mr Arthur Coy, the national selector who watched the first two days of play, then one wonders what he would be expected to do to confirm that he is Springbok material.

Bland was again disappointing and he looked dejected at the end of the day after getting out for nine. His 37 in the first innings looked so good that one felt he was on the way to bigger things.

The opinion among the Rhodesian players is that Bland is batting as well as ever, but is getting himself out unexpectedly. Maybe his luck will change in time.

Frangos and Wallace failed in each innings as openers and Rhodesia will need to look for stiffening here. Howie Gardiner has looked a capable wicket-keeper-batsman.

Yesterday's play, of course, was dominated by a second successive century by Graeme Pollock, who hit 134 not out in less than three hours with 12 fours and three sixes, two of which came in one new ball over from Joe Partridge.

Almost certainly the turning point in Eastern Province's innings was the collision between van der Merwe and Pollock on midwicket which led to van der Merwe's dismissal for 10 when he was shaping well.

RHODESIA BEATEN BY ONE WICKET (Port Elizabeth, Monday)

Thursday 13 December 1966

Eastern Province scored a thrilling outright victory by one wicket over Rhodesia with 50 minutes left for play in their Currie Cup fixture here today. After leading by 11 runs on the first innings, Rhodesia set Eastern Province the target of scoring 195 in their second innings for victory - a task which should have been an easy one.

However, the veteran Springbok, Joe Partridge, took three wickets in one over when the Eastern Province total stood at 10 and, despite an innings of 67 by the Eastern Province and South African captain, Peter van der Merwe, they were in trouble at 177 for eight.

Peter Pollock scored an invaluable 32 to add to the efforts of van der Merwe and opening batsman Short's 41, but Partridge returned to claim two wickets in the third over of his next spell and Eastern Province needed one run to tie and two to win, when last man Den arrived at the wicket to join Ronnie Colling.

A scampered single to Colling, in the region where Bland was fielding, levelled the scores, and Den thrashed out at the next ball from leg-spinner du Preez, seeking the winning run.

Deudney, fielding at square leg, jumped high in the air to get a hand to the ball, but he could not hold it and the batsmen took two to score a dramatic victory.

Partridge bowled extremely well against and Eastern Province side which never seemed to recover from his dismissal - first ball of Graeme Pollock, who chopped the ball on to his wicket.

Partridge dismissed Peter Fenix and Pollock off successive balls and Peter van der Merwe had to come in to save a hat-trick, when Partridge began his next over.

Earlier in the day, Jackie du Preez had scored an invaluable 70 to add to his first innings 112, and Partridge's final figures in Eastern Province's second innings were a commendable six for 20 in 12 overs.

WILL JACKIE BECOME A SPRINGBOK TODAY?

By Len Brown (Tuesday 13 December 1966)

Today could be quite a day in the life of Jackie du Preez, 25-year-old Rhodesian leg-spin bowler and hard-hitting middle order batsman, for it is expected that the South African selectors will announce the players from which the first two Test teams to play the Australians over Christmas and the New Year will be chosen.

And du Preez yesterday at Port Elizabeth wound up his Currie Cup performances with the best season he has had since he first played for Rhodesia against the New Zealanders six years ago.

Including the two matches against the Australians - for the Matabeleland Invitation XI and Rhodesia - and the four Currie Cup matches against Transvaal (2), Natal and Eastern Province, his batting figures are outstanding. In 12 innings, twice not out, he has scored 428 runs, giving him an average of 42.8, and in six of those innings he was top scorer for his side.

And in practically every innings he has played this season for Rhodesia he's been battling - with some success - to keep the innings on an even keel.

But I suspect it is du Preez the leg-spin bowler, not the batsman, who is of more interest right now to the South African selectors. And the youngster's bowling figures are almost as outstanding as his batting figures.

In the same six matches he has bowled the unprecedented - for a leg-spinner - total of 215.2 overs, 46 of which have been maidens, with 666 runs for 24 wickets. In fact, on several occasions he has been used almost as a stock bowler, and I doubt if that could be said of any South African leg-spinner since the days of Xenophon Balaskas, 30 years ago.

If du Preez is not among those named today for the first two Tests there will be many both in Rhodesia and South Africa left wondering just what he has yet to do to warrant a Springbok cap.

[Note: he wasn't. The South African selectors stuck to conservative selections, choosing McKinnon for the first two Tests and David Pithey for the second and third, with du Preez as twelfth man, before finally bringing him into the side for the final two Tests, details of which can be found in the appropriate CricInfo archives.]

JOE FINALLY CALLS IT A DAY

Sportlight by Len Brown (Friday 16 December 1966)

Some last longer than others . . . some take it harder than others . . . but there's one day in the life of a sportsman that can never be put off indefinitely. It's that inexorable day when he decides the time has come to hang up his boots and retire from active playing. And that day arrived last Monday for one of this corner's favourites . . . Joseph Titus Partridge . . . who announced his retirement from first-class cricket after that thrilling finish to the Eastern Province-Rhodesia Currie Cup cricket match, which Joe had gone so close to winning for his side.

And wasn't it just typical of Joe to leave his indelible impression on this game of cricket with one of his finest bowling performances ever on his last day as a first-class cricketer.

Just to recap that performance down at Port Elizabeth last Monday. Eastern Province were left to get 195 for victory with time to spare, and had reached 10 for no wicket when Joe decided the time was ripe to set the cat among the pigeons. In one over he bagged three wickets, including that of his great friend 'Little Dog' Graeme Pollock first ball. (Wonder what Joe said to him as he walked out?)

Joe wound up with figures of six wickets for 20 runs in 12 overs, and had not Colin Bland's throw at the stumps when the last pair scampered the tying run missed by a coat of varnish Rhodesia would have won by one run . . . and only Jackie du Preez would have had as much to do with a thrilling win as Joe Partridge.

Joe celebrated his 34th birthday the day that match started down in Port Elizabeth . . . and as I first played against him when he was a solid, poker-faced youth of 14, in a Mashonaland Country Districts match down at Odzi, I've had the pleasure, along with a host of you, of watching Joe Partridge in action for all of 20 years.

Some time during this last Currie Cup tour down South, Joe passed the 3000 milestone of overs bowled in first-class cricket. His actual figures read: 3034 overs, 807 maidens, 7808 runs, 376 wickets . . . giving him an average of 20 runs a wicket.

In those 20 years of outstanding effort, Joe has produced some fine figures . . . like his seven for nine against Border in 1959, and his match analysis of 14 for 101 against Natal here, in 1962 . . . and his seven for 91 against Australia in the Fifth Test in Sydney when on tour with Goddard's 1963/64 team.

It was on that tour 'down under' that the Sydney Cricket Ground fans - some of the most discerning cricket followers in the world - took Joe to their hearts. They liked his stamina, his courage, and the way he kept after the batsmen all the time with his rhythmic, swinging bowling action . . . they liked him so much that they named a corner of that famous ground 'Joe's Corner' . . . and Richie Benaud assures me that it is still referred to in those terms today.

Joe was named one of the 'Cricketers of the Year' in 1963, after that wonderful season in which he established a record for a bowler in a South African domestic season, by taking 64 wickets in 11 matches (Colin Bland holds the domestic season batting record).

Joe's had his heartbreaks on the cricket field, too . . . and it is one of the unexplained mysteries, to a host of famous cricketers all over the world, that Joe never got a trip to England with a South African side.

Joe has played several sports with above average ability . . . boxing, rugby, hockey, tennis . . . but cricket has always been his best love.

And if you want to get a real ear bashing, get Joe to tell you of some of his innings with the bat . . . and this corner is the first to agree that Joe has some grounds for his pride in this respect.

He's hit some glorious sixes, he's made a thorough nuisance of himself on several occasions when runs were wanted and bowlers were after his scalp . . . and he still holds the record for a Festival innings in Mashonaland . . . 84 in less than 40 minutes.

It doesn't take much arm twisting to get him involved in a game of poker, or a fishing outing . . . and there are one or two up and coming young bowlers in this country who can turn to Joe Partridge and vouch for his help in putting them on the right path.

His Rhodesian team-mates presented him with an inscribed tankard down in Port Elizabeth after the match last Monday . . . wouldn't it be a fine gesture if the Rhodesian selectors played him against the South African Nuffield Schools XI here in Salisbury on the last day of the Nuffield Week next month . . . it would give us here in Salisbury a chance to say: ``So long, Joe . . . and thanks.'' [Note: Joe did play, but Rhodesia still suffered an upset defeat.]

SPORTWISE IT'S BEEN A FAIRLY GOOD YEAR

Sportlight by Len Brown (Friday 23 December 1966)

With the year 1966 just about run its course . . . now would seem to be an appropriate time to run the rule over the sporting scene of the past 12 months, from a Rhodesian point of view. Taken by and large, it's been a bit of a curate's egg . . . disappointing rugby and cricket seasons, while hockey, golf, polo, soccer, swimming, all could say they've enjoyed a pretty good year.

And perhaps the most disappointing of all has been the cricket season, from you, the spectators' point of view. Thumped early in the New Year down at Port Elizabeth in the last of last season's Currie Cup matches, we've suffered the indignity of outright defeats in all four Currie Cup matches this season, against Transvaal (two), Natal and Eastern Province, and been beaten outright by the Australians.

But before throwing any brickbats at the players, don't let's forget that we lost Godfrey Lawrence and David Pithey within a few weeks of each other, both now domiciled in Durban, and those two were key men in the Rhodesian side.

Apart from the loss of these two, none of our top batsmen were consistent enough to give the bowlers a reasonable target to bowl at on most occasions . . . and the poor results for the season could be blamed almost entirely on that fact.

But the season had its promise, too . . . and who here in this country will argue that the season belonged almost entirely to Jackie du Preez . . . his batting, bowling and close to the wicket catching, all blossomed into Test match calibre.

And before this season is out Jackie will have had a delayed Christmas Box in the shape of a Springbok cap. (They tell me two of his biggest fans are the Pollock brothers . . . Peter and Graeme.)

But there have been others too who have helped allay the disappointment of defeat . . . and hold out hopes for something better next season . . . Howie Gardiner, who started the year with the first century, on 3 January . . . it was his third successive ton, and who played two outstanding innings against the Australians, hitting eleven sixes in his innings at Bulawayo and Salisbury.

The great pity of it, from my point of view, is that the three best attacking innings of the season by Rhodesians, were all played in the same game . . . against the Australians in Bulawayo by Colin Bland (94), Ullyett (87) and Gardiner (86). Had we had more innings like that, there would have been far less gloom in the Rhodesian camp.

With Jackie du Preez way out on his own, others who showed marked improvement during the year were bowlers Neville Deudney, Mike Shacklock and Brian Wishart [father of Test player Craig] . . . probably the best pace prospect in Rhodesia, if he's not overworked at the creases until he gains full physical strength.