Lorrie Wilmot

Anthony Lorraine Wilmot (June 1, 1943 — February 29, 2004) was a South African first class cricketer from Cape Province who played from 1960/61 to 1988/89, during their isolation era.

Career

A big hitting right handed batsman, Wilmot is said to have once hit a six off spinner Jack Sparling that went 120 metres. [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/139628.html] He played 147 first class games and made 7687 runs at 32.02 with 12 hundreds. At one stage he captained the Eastern Province team.

His highest score of 222 not out made against Rhodesia in 1965/66 was at the time the second highest ever score by an Eastern Province batsman. [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/SouthAfrica/Firstclass/EasternProvince/Batting_Records/Highest_Innings_For.html]

Controversy

As acting captain of Eastern Province at Bulawayo during the 1972/73 Currie Cup, Wilmot was involved in a walk off. Rhodesia had been set 300 to win and in the final hour of the game they needed six more runs. A minimum of 20 overs had to be bowled in the final hour according to the rules. With Mike Procter and Paddy Clift at the crease and 3 wickets in hand, Wilmot led his team off the field while claiming falsely that the 20 overs had been bowled. Wilmot refused to re-enter the field and the umpires were forced to award the match to Rhodesia. The decision however was oddly overturned by the South African authorities and they declared the match a draw. As a result Rhodesia missed out on winning their maiden Currie Cup title.

In 2000 he was convicted of raping a 13 year old girl. After a long appeals process he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars with 3 of them suspended. [http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,6119,2-7-1442_1334661,00.html]

Death

On the 29th of February 2004, Wilmot committed suicide by shooting himself on his farm near Grahamstown. Although it is likely that he took his own life due to his impending imprisonment, he was also rumoured to be suffering from an incurable disease. [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/47981.html]

External links

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