Rhodesia began this season with perhaps greater hopes of winning the Currie Cup than ever before. They had five players of genuine inter-national class in Colin Bland, Tony and David Pithey, Godfrey Lawrence and Joe Partridge. There were some promising young players coming through, and they felt they had a very good all-round side, the best team ever produced by this country to that point.

But Rhodesia flattered only to deceive, though they were also handicapped by some bad luck. Of their top players, only Godfrey Lawrence, in his final season before emigrating to Natal, fully lived up to his reputation. Once again, it was the batting that frequently let the team down. Colin Bland, after his brilliant 1964/65 season and a tiring tour of England, was stale and actually withdrew from cricket halfway through the season in order to take a complete break and prepare himself for the Australian visit of 1966/67. Tony Pithey was also well below his best, but his brother David, also to emigrate to Natal before the next season, showed improved all-round form, although his bowling was not quite back to its prime.

Victory over Transvaal in the first match might have made all the difference. But, after Rhodesia had batted feebly, their bowlers responded superbly, only for rain and bad light to bring the match to an end 40 minutes early with the last two Transvaal batsmen at the crease needing another 20 runs for victory. Then a magnificent innings by Lorrie Wilmot took Eastern Province through to an unexpected first-innings lead in Salisbury. After an encouraging draw against Natal and victory over Western Province, a second-innings collapse which led to defeat by Eastern Province in Port Elizabeth finally destroyed Rhodesia's hopes of winning the Currie Cup. A washout against Western Province, who were demoted at the end of the season, concluded the season, depriving Rhodesia of the chance of even improving their position in the Currie Cup table. It was considered ironic how, in a season of drought, rain had so badly interfered with Rhodesia's cricket.

1965 was also the year of Ian Smith's U.D.I., although Rhodesia's cricketing future was not so uncertain as that of the country as a whole; cricket carried on as normal with South Africa, but visiting teams from abroad might no longer be willing to visit the country. But the uncertainty contributed to the decisions of a number of leading players to emigrate from the country over the next few years.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 20, 21, 22 November. RHODESIA 195 (N J Frangos 53, E F Parker 39; A H McKinnon 5/59, A F Tillim 3/36) and 202 (R A Gripper 31, N J Frangos 40, R B Ullyett 31, E F Parker 45; R Dumbrill 3/40, H R Lance 3/28). TRANSVAAL 219 (H R Lance 44, R C White 58; J T Partridge 3/84, E F Parker 3/65) and 159/9 (H R Lance 41; G B Lawrence 3/28, D B Pithey 3/47). Match drawn, Transvaal leading on first innings.

At Police Ground, Salisbury; 4, 5, 6 December. RHODESIA 450 (R B Ullyett 135, D B Pithey 143, J H du Preez 49, H A B Gardiner 42*; A R Hector 5/121) and 38/3 (M S P Court 3/11). EASTERN PROVINCE 487 (E J Barlow 142, R G Pollock 53, A L Wilmot 222*; J T Partridge 3/78, E F Parker 5/76). Match drawn, Eastern Province leading on first innings.

At Pietermaritzburg; 18, 20, 21 December. RHODESIA 359 (R A Gripper 41, N J Frangos 85, A J Pithey 57, K C Bland 51, D B Pithey 57; P H J Trimborn 4/89) and 162/5 dec (R A Gripper 35, A J Pithey 59*). NATAL 299 (T L Goddard 47, B A Richards 68, B Versfeld 38, M J Procter 56, M G Parsons 30; D B Pithey 5/67) and 21/0. Match drawn, Rhodesia leading on first innings.

At Cape Town; 27, 28, 29 December. WESTERN PROVINCE 194 (L J Weinstein 32, P L van der Merwe 61; J T Partridge 5/85, G B Lawrence 3/56) and 99 (L J Weinstein 36; G B Lawrence 8/42). RHODESIA 172 (A J Pithey 38, J H du Preez 38, G B Lawrence 32*; J M Cole 5/45) and 122/4 (R A Gripper 51). Rhodesia won by six wickets.

At Port Elizabeth; 1, 3, 4 January. EASTERN PROVINCE 272 (E J Barlow 111, J P Harty 49, D W Gradwell 69; G B Lawrence 4/87, E F Parker 4/59) and 159 (R G Pollock 61; G B Lawrence 5/46). RHODESIA 236 (R A Gripper 30, K C Bland 30, D B Pithey 40, E F Parker 44; P M Pollock 5/45, E J Barlow 3/41) and 129 (D B Pithey 37; A R Hector 4/47). Eastern Province won by 66 runs.

At Police Ground, Salisbury; 26, 27, 28 February. RHODESIA v WESTERN PROVINCE: abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain and a waterlogged ground.

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 1966/67