Natal cricket team in 1971–72

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

Natal v Eastern Province (5-8 November)

"Natal (8pts) drew with Eastern Province (2pts)"

Natal won the toss in Durban and chose to bat first. Scoring was slow and it took them 94.3 overs to reach 260 for 5 declared, with Barry Richards making 63 and Arthur Short 88. Vintcent van der Bijl then took 5 for 34 as East Province were dismissed for only 152. A much faster 202 with Richards, who was being sponsored by a local dairy company at 2 rand a run, making 104 left the visitors with 311 to win. They finished on 246 for 5 with Anthony Biggs's undefeated 105 and Graeme Pollock's 92 saving the game for the Province. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28683.html Scorecard]

Natal v Western Province (20 November)

"Natal beat Western Province on faster scoring rate to progress to the Semi-Finals of the Gillette Cup"

Western Province made a disappointingly low 155 for 9 in their 60 overs at Kingsmead in Durban, with Natal's Pelham Henwood taking 4 for 18 in his 12 overs. In reply, Barry Richards was going well at 43 not out, and Natal on 80 for 2 off 23.3 overs before rain prevented further play. That meant that rain rules had to come into play, and the rain rule for this competition was "Runs scored per wicket against at the time when rain stopped play". Western Province's runs per wicket figure after they had received 23.3 overs was lower than Natal's figure of 40 (80 runs per two wickets), so Natal progressed to the Semi-Final. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/a/0/a620.html Scorecard]

Western Province v Natal (26-29 November)

"Natal (7pts) drew with Western Province (4pts)"

A big 169 from Barry Richards, during which he was dropped three times, dominated this match, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory for Natal at Newlands in Cape Town in one of the most anticipated games of the season. After winning the toss Western Province made 256 for 7, with wicket-keeper Gavin Pfuhl topscoring with 78. It was then that Richards wove his magic, as Natal piled on 420, a lead of 166. This left them with having to dismiss Western Province cheaply if they were to record the win. A hundred from Andre Bruyns, who had good support, saw them to 263 for 3 declared and a comfortable draw. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28694.html Scorecard]

Transvaal v Natal (27-29 December)

"Transvaal (22pts) beat Natal (1pt) by 8 wickets"

Transvaal won the toss and batted in a game at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg that improved their Currie Cup position greatly. Ali Bacher (100), Peter Carlstein (154) and Lee Irvine (93) helped take the Trasvaal total to 403 for 6 declared in 109.5 overs. Natal were then dismissed cheaply for 133 off 38 overs, and forced to follow-on. Natal did better in the second innings with opener Barry Richards anchoring the innings with 134. They were finally all out for 320 off 118.1, with Norman Weightman taking 5 for 37. Transvaal knocked off the 51 runs required for victory in 14.1 overs for the loss of 2 wickets. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28722.html Scorecard]

Natal v Rhodesia (1-4 January)

"Natal (21pts) beat Rhodesia (2pts) by 10 wickets"

Rhodesia won the toss and batted first at Kingsmead, Durban. However, they were soon in trouble, being dismissed for only 111 off 55.5 overs. The stage was then set for Barry Richards, who made 219 before he was finally out caught and bowled by Duncan Fletcher. Mike Procter was the best of the bowlers with his 4 for 97, as Natal made 385 for 9 declared off 106 overs. Rhodesia did much better in their second innings, but their 317 all out off 133.3 overs set a target of only 44, which Natal knocked off without losing an innings. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28733.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://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28734.html Scorecard]

Natal v Western Province (14-17 January)

"Natal (15pts) beat Western Province (5pts) by 158 runs"

Natal won the toss in Pietermaritzburg, which was hosting its first first-class cricket game in 14 years, and chose to bat, a decision which soon looked like a mistake as they were dismissed for a paltry 76, with Peter Swart taking 5 for 24 and Robin Jackman 4 for 34, which included a hat-trick. Western Province fared slightly better, making a total of 121 all out, with Vintcent van der Bijl getting a return of 8 for 35. Natal's second innings was better: openers Barry Richards and Arthur Short put on 122 for the first wicket, which helped their team to 263. Peter Swart took 6 for 85. This left the Province a target of 219 in more than 5 hours on a damp pitch. Natal's bowlers, van der Bijl and Pelham Henwood then made short shrift of Western Province's batsmen, who capitulated for 60, leaving Natal with a big win to leave them top of the Currie Cup table. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28754.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://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28779.html Scorecard]