Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

58 Eric began the season proper by leading Transvaal to a five- wicket victory over Natal, but it was the next match, against the Australians, that provided one of the tour’s sensations. Eric won the toss and decided to send the tourists in after rain had delayed the start. It proved an astute decision as brother Athol took an amazing nine for 19 to dismiss the visitors in just 36.4 overs for 84. Athol had taken the first eight wickets and looked likely to get all ten, but when Alan Walker was stumped off Tim Heaney the bowler broke down and cried, disappointed that he had ruined his colleague’s quest for all ten. Transvaal did little better on the rain sodden pitch. Eric spent 35 minutes making a duck and such was the struggle for the batsmen that he declared his side’s innings closed at 125 for nine, just to get the Australians back in. Once again Athol was the destructive force taking six for 49 in a total of 109. The off-spinner’s fifteen wickets meant that Transvaal was on the verge of doing what no other team had done before, defeating the Australians in a match in South Africa. All that was needed was 69 runs. Ever the optimist Eric was eager to talk up his side’s chances of success. Arthur Morris was leading the Australians and he was not keen to be the first to lose a game in South Africa. ‘Eric was a tough character. He told his side this would be the greatest day of their lives and for South African cricket as they would be the first to beat the Australians.’ Eric did his best to guide his team to victory, opening the innings and spending 68 minutes in making eleven before falling to the off spin of Ian Johnson. Wickets continued to fall and by stumps the match was nearly an even bet with Transvaal struggling at 37 for six. Athol Rowan, a useful batsman, was still there on six, but had suffered a recurrence of his knee injury when his spikes became caught in the turf while he was attempting a shot. The injury had put his selection for the Tests in grave doubt. Chasing a further 32 with four wickets in hand, Transvaal lost keeper MacLaren without adding to their overnight score and further wickets fell as they inched towards victory. With the last pair together and the total on 53, Johnson lured Abernethy forward and Ron Saggers completed the stumping. Arthur Morris remembered the moment. ‘The umpire took a long time to give that last batsman out stumped. His foot was on the line and eventually he did the right thing and we won.’ The unbeaten record was preserved, although luckily and mostly thanks to Ian Australian Challenge