Currie Cup Section B in 1971–72

"See also: 1971-72 South African cricket season"

Transvaal B v Orange Free State (29 October-1 November)

"Transvaal B (8pts) drew with Orange Free State (8pts)"

Transvaal B won the toss at the New Wanderers No. 1 Oval at Johannesburg and elected to bat, and they soon found themselves struggling on 127 for 8. They were then rescued by a partnership of 99 before tenth man Danzel Becker was out for 36, but the hero of the innings was Kevin McKenzie's who made 127, his maiden century, as Transvaal B totalled 228. Stuart Gardiner took 5 for 68 for Orange Free State. Orange Free State's reply was more steady, but they could only match their hosts 228. Transvaal B's second innings was much better, and James Breakley's 84 saw them to 308. However, they hadn't quite left themselves enough time, with Orange Free State finishing the match on 243 for 9, after being 201 for 8 one hour before the end, and so Transvaal B ended one tantalising wicket away from victory. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32050.html Scorecard]

Northern Transvaal v Griqualand West (5-8 November)

"Northern Transvaal (19pts) beat Griqualand West (5pts) by 130 runs"

Griqualand West won the toss and chose to field at Berea Park, Pretoria, but did not excel. A century from Tiger Lance in 165 minutes helped Northern Transvaal to 280 for 7 declared. The visitors were restricted to 220, before Northern Transvaal, this time aided by a century from Kenneth Burrow made 279 for 7 declared, leaving Griqualand West 340 to win. 6 for 55 from Lance saw the visitors crumble to 209 all out, a comfortable win and the 10 points that go with it for Northern Transvaal in their first Currie Cup match of the season. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32057.html Scorecard]

Northern Transvaal v Border (25-27 November)

"Border (6pts) drew with Northern Transvaal (2pts)"

Border won the toss at Berea Park, Pretoria and elected to bat. Opener Ian McClenaghan's 65 and number three batsman Bruce Long's first-class best of 93 helped the visitors to 260 for 9 in a perishingly slow 114.4 overs. Pat Pocock, the England Test bowler took 5 for 52. In Northern Transvaal's reply, Alan Ward's 6 for 44 and Christopher Davies's 4 for 76 saw Northern Transvaal dismissed for 180, a deficit of 80 by the end of the second day, and a thriller in sight. However, Border's 278 all out in 6 and a half hours on a good batting pitch did not leave enough time to win. Northern Transvaal were set a target of 359 in four hours. The game ended with Northern Transvaal on 136 for 3. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32068.html Scorecard]

Natal B v Griqualand West (26-29 November)

"Natal B (5pts) drew with Griqualand West (4pts)"

Natal B won the toss and chose to bat at Kingsmead, Durban. A first innings score of 280 for 5 declared came about with a century from Bruce Groves, followed by 238 for 6 from Griqualand West. Natal B piled on the runs quickly in their second innings, making 211 for 4 in just 46 overs, but delaying the declaration until Michael Madsen had made his century. This left Griqualand West to score 254 to win. After getting to 78 for 1, they then collapsed as Natal B captain Grayson Heath found the right bowling combination of Peter Lyons and Robert Ireland who took 4 wickets each as the visitors fell to 111 for 7 and then 146 for 8. Then Griqualand West held on with Graham Funston making 43 not out from number 10 to save the game: his team finishing on 178 for 8. The loss of 100 minutes for bad light on the second day thereby certainly denying Natal B victory. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32071.html Scorecard]

Border v Orange Free State (10-13 December)

"Border (7pts) drew with Orange Free State (2pts)"

Border won the toss and elected to bat at Jan Smuts Ground, East London in a game that was to be severely restricted by the weather. Bruce Long and Charles Pope made half-centuries as Border put on 284 for 7 declared in 101 overs. Orange Free State could only muster 139 all out in 80.3 overs in reply, a deficit of 145. Border put on a quickfire 50 for 4 declared in 12 overs to attempt to force a win, but the game was drawn with rain putting an end to Orange Free State's chase at 125 for 5 off 41.2 overs, still needing 71 runs in 12 overs. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32082.html Scorecard]

Transvaal B v Northern Transvaal (10-13 December)

"Transvaal B (6pts) drew with Northern Transvaal (5pts)"

Transvaal B won the toss at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg and chose to bat. They then proceeded to put on 333 all out in 121.5 overs, with Duncan Lindsay-Smith top-scoring on 87, but with only 225 scored off the first 85 overs they only secured 2 bonus points. Northern Transvaal countered with 229 for 9 declared off 80.4 overs, conceding a deficit of 104. On a pitch favouring the batsmen, Transvaal B then made the mistake of delaying the declaration too long, their 239 for 5 setting a target of 344 in 310 minutes. Northern Transvaal got as far as 194 for 4 when heavy rain and hail brought an end to the match with 2 hours to go. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32084.html Scorecard]

Natal B v Transvaal B (27-29 December)

"Transvaal B (18pts) beat Natal B (5pts) by 7 wickets"

Transvaal B achieved the first win of the season after winning the toss and putting Natal B into bat. This paid early dividends as Natal B lost half their batsmen for 68 before a rearguard fightback from Graham Dyer, Michael Smithyman and Marshall Riddell saw them to 248 all out. Transvaal B replied strongly, however, posting 348 all out. 4 wickets from Albert During helped dismiss Natal B for 283, which translated to a target of only 184, which Transvaal B got just before a thunderstorm came over the ground 58 minutes from time. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32108.html Scorecard]

Orange Free State v Northern Transvaal (27-29 December)

"Northern Transvaal (21pts) beat Orange Free State (2pts) by an innings and 39 runs"

Orange Free State won the toss and batted first on a docile wicket at Bloemfontein. They were soon in trouble at 0 for 3, and could only recover to 157 in 50.1 overs. Northern Transvaal piled on the runs in reply - Denis Lindsay (122), Darryl Bestall (97) and Tiger Lance (95) put the Free State to the sword before the declaration came at 483 for 6 off just 118.4 overs. Free State fought harder in their second innings, with Neil Rosendorff putting on 127, but it could only delay the inevitable as Free State were finally all out for 287 in 95.4 overs after only 87 minutes play on the last day. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32109.html Scorecard]

Border v Transvaal B (1-4 January)

"Border (14pts) beat Transvaal B (7pts) by 141 runs"

At Jan Smuts Ground in East London, Border won the toss and batted first. Vivian Greve took 7 for 71 as Border were all out for 162 off 73.4 overs. Transvaal B countered with 231 all out off 90 overs, a lead of 69. Border's top order soon wiped the deficit off, with the second wicket only going down once 201 was on the board. Miles Harvey top-scored with 117, as Border's 304 all out set a target of 236 runs. Roy Taylor (7 for 45) and Alan Ward (3 for 42) then whittled through the Border batting for 94, Transvaal B's lowest score to date, in under two hours for a comfortable 141 victory. During the match Border's wicket-keeper Charles Pope's 9 catches set a new record for a South African. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32119.html Scorecard]

Griqualand West v Orange Free State (1-4 January)

"Orange Free State (2pts) drew with Griqualand West (1pts)"

Orange Free State won the toss at De Beers Stadium, Kimberley and batted first, making a painstakingly slow 236 for 9 off 115.1 overs. In reply, Griqualand West made 232 all out in 122.1 overs, with Free State's captain, Neil Rosendorff, taking 6 for 16. Roger Prideaux's 108 not out was the highlight of Free State's second innings, where 185 for 6 declared off 98 overs set a target of 190 runs, but after 11 overs, with the score at 25 for 1, stumps were drawn. Overall, the slow scoring obliterated any chance of a result other than a draw. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32120.html Scorecard]

Northern Transvaal v Natal B (1-4 January)

"Northern Transvaal (17pts) beat Natal B (10pts) by 7 wickets"

After Natal B won the toss at Berea Park, Pretoria and elected to bat, Graham Dyer made an undefeated 122 out of a total of 364 all out off 115.4 overs. Northern Transvaal replied with 240 off 84.3 overs, thereby conceding a deficit of 124. Trying to force a win after rain delays, Natal B declared on 130 for 4 after 44 overs in their reply to set their hosts 255 in 49 overs. Northern Transvaal made their target in 46.4 overs for the loss off 3 wickets, with Denis Lindsay making 113 of them. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32122.html Scorecard]

Griqualand West v Border (13-15 January)

"Griqualand West (7pts) drew with Border (4pts)"

Heavy rain and a saturated wicket meant that the first day and the first hour of the second day were lost, and a draw a virtual certainty. Border won the toss at De Beers Stadium at Kimberley and made 177 off 89.5 overs in their first innings. Griqualand West got 269 in 92 overs in reply; Michael Doherty making 95 and Michael Harper taking 6 for 112. There was only time for Border to make 96 for 3 off 60 overs in reply before stumps were drawn. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32138.html Scorecard]

Orange Free State v Natal B (28-31 January)

"Orange Free State (6pts) drew with Natal B (5pts)"

Orange Free State batted first after winning the toss at Bloemfontein. Peter Strydom and Alan Andre put on 114 for the first wicket. Andre then went on to score his highest first-class total of 124. Roger Prideaux then made 130 as the Free State put on a mammoth 481 for 9 declared off 164 overs. Natal B made 310 all out off 92.2 overs and were asked to follow-on. 111 from Bruce Groves and half-centuries from Neil Hosken, Allister Hipkin and Gerald Katz saved the game as Natal B totalled 324 for 4 before stumps were drawn. [http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/32/32169.html Scorecard]