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.
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Robert Mulock Bentley | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 3 November 1958 Bindura, Mashonaland, Rhodesia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off-break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batsman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1978/79 | Rhodesia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979/80 | Zimbabwe-Rhodesia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980/81–1991/92 | Natal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 edit
- ^ "Middlesex in Zimbabwe 1980/81". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding in South Africa for 1982/83". CricketArchive.
- ^ "Player Oracle - Robert Bentley". CricketArchive.