Transvaal cricket team in 1971–72

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

Rhodesia v Transvaal (30 October-1 November)

"Transvaal (8pts) drew with Rhodesia (6pts)"

Rhodesia won the toss at the Police Ground in Salisbury (now Harare) and chose to field, a decision that proved to be a mistake with Lee Irvine's 120 and half-centuries from Brian Bath, Peter Carlstein and Peter de Vaal seeing Transvaal to a mammoth 392. Brian Barbour made 97 in the reply, the highest score by a Rhodesian on debut at the time. 5 for 52 from Brian Bath was not enough to stop Rhodesia posting 345, a deficit of 47. Ali Bacher made 83, and de Vaal another half-century before Bacher declared on 242 for 6, leaving the hosts to score 290 to win in 235 minutes. They weren't able to come close, and they ended up on 182 for 7, with Transvaal unable to clinch the victory. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28679.html Scorecard]

Transvaal v Rhodesia (20 November)

"Transvaal beat Rhodesia by 4 runs to progress to the Semi-Finals of the Gillette Cup"

Transvaal edged a tight game against Rhodesia at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. After Transvaal went in first, captain Ali Bacher made 56, however, any hopes they may have had for a big score were ruined when they went from 102 for 1 to 118 for 7. Clive Rice, with 28, provided a wag of the tail and they finally closed on 178 all out with 4.1 overs still left to bowl. Rhodesia lost wickets at regular intervals in reply, and at 157 for 8 they were second favourites. They recovered to 173 for 8, then lost the next two wickets for just one run to lose by four, with five balls left to bowl. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/a/0/a622.html Scorecard]

Eastern Province v Transvaal (10-13 December)

"Eastern Province (7pts) drew with Transvaal (6pts)"

Transvaal won the toss at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth and chose to bat on a fast grassy wicket. They performed poorly, though, and were all out for 209 in 73.1 overs. Only Lee Irvine with 70 put up much resistance. Eastern Province matched that with 202 for 9 off 60.4 overs, with Donald Mackay-Coghill taking 4 for 62 and Graeme Pollock top-scoring with 49. Transvaal's second innings saw them recover from 148 for 8 to post yet another score in the low 200s, this time 216, with Ali Bacher making 80 and Keith Reid taking 4 for 34. This set Eastern Province a target of 224 in 280 minutes. They got close. After reaching 77 for 1 they lost wickets regularly, and they finished on 200 for 7 after 83 overs to secure a draw in a game that could have gone any of four ways. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28700.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]

Western Province v Transvaal (1-4 January)

"Western Province (13pts) beat Transvaal (2pts) by 4 wickets"

After winning the toss at Newlands, Cape Town, Transvaal made 273 all out off 119.2 overs, Brian Bath topscoring with 86. Western Province made 313 all out off 136.3 overs in reply. In a game of fluctuating fortunes, Transvaal's 238 for 8 declared off 80 overs left the Province 199 to win in 90 minutes plus 20 overs. The Province's captain, Andre Bruyn's anchored the innings, and survived two close run out calls in his undefeated 108 as Western Province defeated the Currie Cup holders with 4 wickets remaining. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28735.html Scorecard]

Transvaal v Rhodesia (28-31 January)

"Rhodesia (20pts) beat Transvaal (3pts) by 9 wickets"

Rhodesia beat Transvaal for the first time in a Currie Cup match after Transvaal batted first at Johannesburg, but could only make 124 as Rhodesia's Mike Procter took 7 for 32. Procter then went on to topscore with 83 in Rhodesia's innings of 410, with Brian Barbour and Duncan Fletcher also making half-centuries. Transvaal's 315 then left a target of only 30, which Rhodesia knocked off for the loss of one wicket. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/f/28/f28780.html Scorecard]