BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Following the death of South African cricket legend Mike Procter on Saturday, South Africa and Zimbabwe on Monday decided to dedicate their opening match of the Over-60s World Cup in India to the departed ex-superstar.
Named the “Procky Trophy” on short notice, this clash between the two neighbouring nations will be a befitting tribute, beyond this current tournament in India, in honour of one the finest all-rounders to ever play the game.
Durban-born Procter – who died in his hometown on Saturday at the age of 77 – played Currie Cup cricket for Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in the 1970s, and is best remembered in the country for a historic achievement only associated with two other cricketers on the planet.
In the 1970-1 season, Procter smashed six centuries in a row for Rhodesia, one of only three men in the history of the game to have done so after none other than the legendary Englishman CB Fry and Sir Donald Bradman of Australia, considered by many to be probably the greatest cricketer of all time.
Zimbabwe Over-60s before the match.
Zimbabwe’s veterans, and the famous Eddo Brandes in their line-up, won by five wickets with 30 balls to spare in host city Chennai on Monday afternoon.
“It was a great match with a high level of intensity to win this special trophy,” Zimbabwe Over-60s team member Kenyon Ziehl told SportsCast from Chennai after the game.
“A minute of silence was observed and both teams wore black arm-bands. There was also a verbal tribute from both captains before national anthems were played. The match was dedicated to Mike Procter, in the inaugural ‘Procky Trophy’.”
