Christiaan Frederick Beyers Papenfus (10 December 1915 – 18 November 1941) was a South African first-class cricketer and South African Air Force pilot.

Christiaan Papenfus
Personal information
Full name
Christiaan Frederick Beyers Papenfus
Born10 December 1915
Barberton, Transvaal, South Africa
Died18 November 1941(1941-11-18) (aged 25)
Gazala, Italian Libya
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1936/37–1939/40Orange Free State
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 5
Runs scored 81
Batting average 13.50
100s/50s 0/1
Top score 60
Balls bowled 1,123
Wickets 25
Bowling average 19.88
5 wickets in innings 2
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 6/88
Catches/stumpings 3/–
Source: Cricinfo, 12 June 2022

Papenfus was born at Barberton in November 1915. He made his debut in first-class cricket for Orange Free State against Natal at Bloemfontein in the 1936–37 Currie Cup. He made four further first-class appearances for Orange Free State, the last of which came in February 1940.[1] Papenfus met with success in his five matches, taking 25 wickets at an average of 19.88.[2] He took two five wicket hauls, the first of which came in his third first-class match against Border when he took figures of 5 for 39; despite this, Orange Free State lost the match by 191 runs. In his final first-class appearance against North Eastern Transvaal, he took 6 for 88, and recorded his only first-class half-century with a score of 60 batting at number ten; Orange Free State lost this match by 83 runs.[3] Wisden noted that despite this innings, he was "normally of little account as a batsman".[4]

Papenfus served as a sergeant in the South African Air Force during the Second World War. Attached to 21 Squadron, he served as crew on Maryland bombers. 21 Squadron was tasked with attacking German and Italian bases as part of the North African campaign. He was killed in action over Gazala in Italian Libya on 18 November 1941, when his bomber was shot down by the Regia Aeronautica. He was buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Christiaan Papenfus". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  2. ^ "First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Christiaan Papenfus". CricketArchive. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b McCrery, Nigel (30 July 2017). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Vol. 2nd. Pen and Sword. pp. 143–5. ISBN 9781526706973.
  4. ^ "Obituaries during the war, 1942". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
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