Rhodesian first-class cricket in 1950/51

Captains: 'Bev' Franklin (1), Percy Mansell (4), Johnny Leibbrandt (1)

The South African provinces returned to the Currie Cup competition after missing two seasons due to the English and Australian tours. Rhodesia, despite juggling their captains and thanks to outright victories over the two provinces at the bottom of the final Currie Cup table, finished in mid-table. `Bev' Franklin, appointed captain for the first match, found himself dropped from the team for the second game. Percy Mansell took over, but never really felt comfortable in that role; when he was injured before the final match, Johnny Leibbrandt was appointed.

In their first match Rhodesia trailed badly on first innings to North-Eastern Transvaal but, needing 295 for victory, recovered magnificently to win by three wickets, thanks largely to a fine century by John Wallace, with good support from the middle order. They were no match for Transvaal in the following fixture, nor the Western and Eastern Provinces on tour in South Africa. But a good all-round team performance brought about a fine victory in the match against Griqualand West. A close match against Border, to finish the season, was spoilt by the weather.

The season was a personal triumph for Percy Mansell, whose excellent all-round form earned him a place on the England tour of 1951. He finished top of the Rhodesian aggregates in both batting and bowling (345 runs at 49.44 and 27 wickets at 22.03). Dave Rees, in his first season for Rhodesia after playing for Western Province, scored 273 runs at 45.50, while Connie Pretorius, in his last full season, also averaged over 40 (325 at 40.62). Rhodesia's bowling was based largely on spin, Mansell's leg-breaks being backed up mainly by the slow left-armer Peter Johnson (18 wickets at 21.77) and the off-breaks of Allen Carew, in his final season (17 wickets at 30.05).

At Salisbury Sports Club; 18, 19, 20 November. NORTH-EASTERN TRANSVAAL 251 (S P de Vigne 32, T H Woolley 63, P R Davidson 63; P N F Mansell 7/112, A S Carew 3/43) and 166 (S P de Vigne 35, B A L Wiles 45, J W Blewett 37; H H Montgomery 3/13, P N F Mansell 3/57, A S Carew 3/27). RHODESIA 123 (R W J Ashburner 32; B A L Wiles 4/65, H V Paton 5/34) and 297/7 (J H A Wallace 109, P N F Mansell 65, C J Pretorius 49; H V Paton 3/92). Rhodesia won by three wickets.

At Salisbury Sports Club; 2, 3, 4 December. TRANSVAAL 445 (E A B Rowan 176, A I Taylor 38, J H Ward 61, A D Pinkerton 64, M G Melle 50; P N F Mansell 3/117). RHODESIA 153 (P N F Mansell 46; G W A Chubb 5/35) and 151 (P N F Mansell 59; D A Clark 5/59). Transvaal won by an innings and 141 runs.

At Cape Town; 22, 23, 24 December. RHODESIA 235 (P N F Mansell 33, C J Pretorius 54, J M Leibbrandt 50; R F Delport 7/54) and 161 (J M S Baldwin 34, J H A Wallace 31; S A Thwaits 6/29). WESTERN PROVINCE 221 (J D Nel 42, G A S Innes 31, S A Thwaits 71*; P N F Mansell 7/78) and 176/4 (J E Cheetham 63, C B van Ryneveld 44). Western Province won by six wickets.

At Port Elizabeth; 30 December, 1, 2 January. RHODESIA 178 (J P Sierra 62; N B F Mann 5/55) and 146 (D W Rees 45; N B F Mann 7/47). EASTERN PROVINCE 289/9 dec (K H Johnson 52, A R A Murray 41, E B Norton 47, S D du Toit 65; A S Carew 3/57, P E Johnson 3/43) and 36/1. Eastern Province won by nine wickets.

At Kimberley; 5, 6, 8 January. RHODESIA 473 (J M S Baldwin 53, J H A Wallace 33, P N F Mansell 62, C J Pretorius 140*, C Harris 32, D W Rees 84; J E Waddington 3/128, L E McNamara 4/122) and 88/5 (P N F Mansell 39). GRIQUALAND WEST 273 (L B Hutton 41, R G Draper 36, C D Helfrich 86; P N F Mansell 4/86, P E Johnson 4/44) and 287 (C J Dickens 105, L E McNamara 44, J E Waddington 38*; J M Leibbrandt 5/48). Rhodesia won by five wickets.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 19, 20, 21 January. BORDER 259 (G C Fuller 31, C Kirton 99, A W Hicks 45; P E Johnson 5/70, A S Carew 3/72) and 30/0. RHODESIA 234 (D W Rees 105; A W Hicks 4/71, H Minkley 3/55). Match drawn.

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 1951/52