Robert Bentley (cricketer)

Robert Mulock Bentley (born 3 November 1958) is a former first-class cricketer who played for both his native Rhodesia and Natal in the Currie Cup.

Robert Bentley
Personal information
Full name
Robert Mulock Bentley
Born (1958-11-03) 3 November 1958
Bindura, Mashonaland, Rhodesia
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight-arm off-break
RoleBatsman
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1978/79Rhodesia
1979/80Zimbabwe-Rhodesia
1980/81–1991/92Natal
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A
Matches 98 100
Runs scored 5,091 2,455
Batting average 32.84 29.93
100s/50s 5/35 3/13
Top score 151 112
Balls bowled 6,818 1,158
Wickets 91 26
Bowling average 33.04 34.61
5 wickets in innings 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 4/33 3/20
Catches/stumpings 47/– 21/–
Source: CricketArchive, 15 August 2022

Bentley lined up for Rhodesia for the first time in the 1978/79 Currie Cup. In the following season's campaign the team was renamed Zimbabwe-Rhodesia before the county became fully independent in 1980. Later that year he represented Zimbabwe in two first-class matches against Middlesex who were touring the country.[1] While many of his teammates went on to play One Day International cricket for Zimbabwe, Bentley instead moved to South Africa and joined Natal. He was a regular batsman in the middle order at Natal, often at three, throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

After spending the 1982 English summer as a professional at Lancashire League club Haslingden, Bentley returned to South Africa and had his most prolific season with 639 runs at 45.64.[2]

Also a capable off spin bowler, his first-class wickets include Graeme Pollock, Kepler Wessels, Peter Kirsten and Allan Lamb.[3]

References

  1. "Middlesex in Zimbabwe 1980/81". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  2. "First-class Batting and Fielding in South Africa for 1982/83". CricketArchive.
  3. "Player Oracle - Robert Bentley". CricketArchive.
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