NEVILLE WILLIAMS REPLACES BENNETT (Saturday 30 December 1967)

East London, Friday

The touring Rhodesian cricketers have made one change in the side which lost on the first innings to Western Province, for their 'B' Section Currie Cup game against Border starting here tomorrow.

Brian Bennett is standing down for Neville Williams. He will probably share the new ball with Eddie Parker. Peter Carlstein, one of the three Springboks in the side, received treatment here today for a shoulder injury, but there is every likelihood of his being fit enough to play.

Border are relying on the same 11 players who beat Free State outright this week. The game has aroused keen interest and the result could have a bearing on the final outcome of the competition.

Border at present top the log with 12 points - two more than Western Province and Natal 'B' who are sharing second place.

The field and pitch are in fine fettle and unless affected by rain are likely to favour the batsmen.

Jack du Preez, Rhodesia's Springbok leg-spinner, will therefore have to toil hard and long for any worthwhile reward.

He could, however, be the key man in the match, though Border have two particularly fine seamers in Malcolm Scott and Trevor Ziemann and game spinner in Neil Wrede.

RHODESIA CRAWL TO 89-1 (Sunday Mail, 31 December 1967)

East London, Saturday

Rhodesia crawled to a commanding position against Border in their Currie Cup cricket match at the Jan Smuts Ground here today. To the slow hand-clapping of some of the 2500 crowd, Rhodesia scored 89 for one wicket in 170 minutes after dismissing Border for 210 scored in 207 minutes.

Ray Gripper (34 not out) and Jono Clarke (48) were associated in a dreary 84-run, 148-minute opening stand in which they made little attempt to master Border's unpenetrative attack on a docile pitch.

Border did not help by maintaining a seam attack that did not look like breaking through after star bowler Malcolm Scott had left the field with a thigh injury after bowling five overs.

Despite his exaggerated caution Clarke played some fine leg-side shots in scoring his 48. He did not give a chance before being caught at silly mid-on shortly after left-arm spinner Neil Wrede had been introduced to the attack.

Earlier in the day Colin Bland turned in his best-ever bowling performance when he claimed three wickets for 23 runs with his medium pacers.

Bland shared the new ball with Eddie Parker and maintained a good length. He was aided by a slightly lively pitch and a humid atmosphere that appeared to aid the swing bowlers.

Border's best batting came from Chris Wilkins who hit an aggressive 63 in 99 minutes, Buster Farrer (27) and Dudley Tricker (49).

Wilkins and Farrer added 86 in 62 minutes for the third wicket after two wickets had fallen for 15 runs.

The partnership ended when Farrer was run out when Wilkins called for an impossible second run.

Wilkins followed soon afterward, caught at deep mid-off by Brian Davison.

RHODESIAN VICTORY OVER BORDER (Wednesday 3 January 1968)

East London, Tuesday

[Note: there was no edition of The Herald on Tuesday 2 January 1968]

Rhodesia beat Border by seven wickets to take full points in their B Section Currie Cup cricket match on the final day here today - but not without a struggle. Thanks largely to a splendid 109 by Springbok 'Buster' Farrer, Border (55 for four overnight) reached 265 in their second innings after lunch today.

Farrer was also involved in two good stands. With Dudley Tricker (46), he added 76 in 62 minutes for the fifth wicket, and later he and the captain, Gordon Minkley (39), put on 103 in 78 minutes for the sixth.

The most successful bowler in the Rhodesian attack was Springbok leg-spinner Jack du Preez, who claimed five for 117 in 40 overs.

The Rhodesians, needing 24 to win, lost three wickets to seam bowler Gerald Nelson before Eddie Parker hit Nelson for four to make the total 27.

Rhodesia had taken a mammoth first-innings lead of 242 when the declared at 452 for seven wickets yesterday in reply to Border's 210.

Farrer's innings - which gave him his second century in successive matches - took him 201 minutes and included 20 fours. His fifty took 121 minutes and his total reached three-figure proportions in 185 minutes.

The Rhodesian captain, Springbok Colin Bland, did much to push the score along with a spectacular 197 yesterday. It was his highest score in first-class cricket - and a delight to watch.

Bland cracked eight sixes and 21 fours in 220 minutes before being caught.

Bland's fine innings beat his previous highest of 162 against North-Eastern Transvaal in 1962/63. Most of his runs came from powerful on-drives and cover drives.

He was assisted by Rob Ullyett in a partnership of 181 in 149 minutes for the fourth wicket. By contrast to Bland's blitz on the bowlers, Ullyett took 251 minutes for his 78.

EXPECT A FLOOD OF RUNS FROM BLAND

By Tony Pithey (Sunday Mail, 7 January 1968)

Colin Bland's impressive innings of 197 last week against Border signifies a milestone in his career in that it is his highest recorded first-class score.

But this is a milestone with a difference because I believe this is the final stage in his development as a cricketer.

I am putting forward this view because I feel that I, and others, have experienced a similar metamorphosis in our respective careers.

What then is this metamorphosis?

Initially, an ambitious young cricketer is primarily interested in reaching the top. That is, his own individual performances are of paramount importance to him, and the success of the side is largely of secondary importance.

Actually, this outlook is not as selfish as it sounds in that the great fascination of cricket is the fact that it is both an individualistic and a team game, and the keener the cricketer is to do well, the more it is going to benefit the side.

In the final analysis, however, the player must still subordinate his interests to that of the side.

This 'individualistic' approach also tends to manifest itself up to the time the player has achieved most of his ambitions in the game. His position, whether it be in the provincial or in the international side, is reasonably secure, and it is at this point that he now begins to associate himself more closely with the fortunes of the side.

This transformation is completed when the player takes on the responsibility of captaincy. He is now responsible, not only for his own performance, but for the other 10 as well.

He is now nervous when the others perform - not necessarily for their sake but for that of the side.

No longer is the game over for a while when he is out.

In the field, even on the hottest day, weariness is a thing that goes unnoticed until he returns to the dressing rooms; instead, attention is focused on field placings, bowling changes and a host of other factors.

From my own experiences, I can say without reserve that this part of my career has been the most rewarding.

It is my contention that Bland's career has now reached this stage. In the recent past Bland has been criticised for not getting the runs he is capable of for Rhodesia.

This is a valid criticism and the reason is undoubtedly that his ambitions have been in the international field, and his enthusiasm for provincial games has taken a back seat.

This is a reaction that many of us have experienced, even lower down the scale. Cricketers actively engaged in provincial cricket have the same feeling of almost indifference for league cricket.

The significance of Colin Bland's magnificent innings last week is, therefore, more than just his top score, it heralds a new stage in his cricket career.

It is a stage which I am sure will afford Colin more enjoyment and be more challenging than he has experienced to date, and at the same time we in Rhodesia can expect to see many more runs flowing from his bat.

RHODESIAN FIELDING HAS BEEN GREAT - PICHANICK (Sunday Mail, 7 January 1968)

Bloemfontein, Saturday

Rhodesian manager Alwyn Pichanick is a man who hopes to see Rhodesian cricket regain its former place in the Currie Cup A Section. And after Rhodesia's first two matches of their three-match tour (against Western Province and Border and their current good showing against Free State) he feels this goal is not too far away.

``Colin Bland has really whipped the chaps into good shape for their matches. There is tremendous determination in the side and the players have shown a willingness to fight back from a shaky position,'' he said on Friday.

``Our attack has been a little thin, but this has been evened out by the fielding. At Cape Town and East London people remarked on the standard of fielding and, believe me, it was quite remarkable. Catches are being held and a lot of runs are being prevented by quick returns to the wicket.

``Our batting has been very successful. Bland's innings of 197 was fantastic against Border. He really slaughtered the bowling. Peter Carlstein has been in good form and Jono Clarke looks as if he will prove a big asset in the future,'' adds Pichanick.

``We aim to get back to the A Section, but if and when we do we want to have a depth of talent that will keep us there. You might say our ambition is to get to the A Section and then win it.

``Under-23 cricket has been started in Rhodesia and already it is proving a great success. We want to build the nucleus of a side that will keep us at the top.

``I would say that this team has a fairly good chance of winning the B Section. Bland's captaincy and the tremendous spirit in the side are helping enormously.''

Colin Bland refused to comment on his Border innings and return to form.