Dereck Dowling

Dereck Frank Dowling (25 May 1914 – 30 May 2003) was a South African cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1937 to 1954.

Dereck Dowling
Personal information
Full nameDereck Frank Dowling
Born(1914-05-25)25 May 1914
Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa
Died30 May 2003(2003-05-30) (aged 89)
Durban, Natal
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight-arm leg-spin
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1937-38 to 1938-39Border
1939-40 to 1945-46North-Eastern Transvaal
1946-47 to 1953-54Natal
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 57
Runs scored 2871
Batting average 36.80
100s/50s 5/17
Top score 106
Balls bowled 3506
Wickets 72
Bowling average 24.44
5 wickets in innings 2
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 6/24
Catches/stumpings 41/–
Source: Cricinfo, 21 April 2018

A stylish left-handed middle-order batsman and leg-spin bowler,[1] Dereck Dowling made his first-class debut in the 1937-38 Currie Cup season. Batting at number five for Border against Western Province, he scored 84 and 40 not out in a seven-wicket victory for Border.[2] He played for North-Eastern Transvaal in 1939-40. In the nine matches he played before the Second World War he made six fifties.[3]

He joined Natal in 1946-47, helping them win three of the next five Currie Cup competitions.[1] He twice made his highest score of 106: in an innings victory for Natal over North-Eastern Transvaal in 1947-48,[4] and in a draw against Transvaal in 1952-53.[5] His best bowling figures of 6 for 24 enabled Natal to dismiss Border for 60 and claim an innings victory in the opening match of the 1950-51 Currie Cup.[6]

Although he was considered for the tours of England in 1951 and Australia and New Zealand in 1952-53, he never played Test cricket.[1] The New Zealand player John Reid said Dowling was “perhaps the best batsman—and the unluckiest—never to be selected for South Africa”.[7]

He was the president of the Natal Cricket Association from 1974 to 1986. His father, Henry, and younger brother Justin also played Currie Cup cricket.[1]

References
  1. Wisden 2004, p. 1539.
  2. "Western Province v Border 1937-38". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  3. "First-class batting and fielding in each season by Dereck Dowling". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  4. "Natal v North-Eastern Transvaal 1947-48". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  5. "Transvaal v Natal 1952-53". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  6. "Natal v Border 1950-51". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  7. John Reid, Sword of Willow, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, 1962, p. 81.
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