Lorrie Wilmot
Encyclopedia
Anthony Lorraine Wilmot was a South African first class cricketer from Cape Province
who played from 1960/61 to 1988/89, during their isolation era.
He played 147 first class games and made 7687 runs at 32.02 with 12 hundreds. At one stage he captained the Eastern Province team.
His highest score of 222 not out made against Rhodesia in 1965/66 was at the time the second highest ever score by an Eastern Province batsman.http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/SouthAfrica/Firstclass/EasternProvince/Batting_Records/Highest_Innings_For.html
, Wilmot was involved in a walk off. Rhodesia had been set 300 to win and in the final hour of the game they needed six more runs. A minimum of 20 overs had to be bowled in the final hour according to the rules. With Mike Procter
and Paddy Clift
at the crease and 3 wickets in hand, Wilmot led his team off the field while claiming falsely that the 20 overs had been bowled. Wilmot refused to re-enter the field and the umpires were forced to award the match to Rhodesia. The decision however was oddly overturned by the South African authorities and they declared the match a draw. As a result Rhodesia missed out on winning their maiden Currie Cup title.
In 2000 he was convicted of raping a 13 year old girl. After a long appeals process he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars with 3 of them suspended.http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,6119,2-7-1442_1334661,00.html
. Although it is likely that he took his own life due to his impending imprisonment, he was also rumoured to be suffering from an incurable disease.http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/47981.html
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
who played from 1960/61 to 1988/89, during their isolation era.
Career
A big hitting right-handed batsman, Wilmot is said to have once hit a six off spinner Jack Sparling that went 120 metres.http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/139628.htmlHe played 147 first class games and made 7687 runs at 32.02 with 12 hundreds. At one stage he captained the Eastern Province team.
His highest score of 222 not out made against Rhodesia in 1965/66 was at the time the second highest ever score by an Eastern Province batsman.http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/SouthAfrica/Firstclass/EasternProvince/Batting_Records/Highest_Innings_For.html
Controversy
As acting captain of Eastern Province at Bulawayo during the 1972/73 Currie CupSuperSport Series
The SuperSport Series is the main domestic first class cricket competition in South Africa, first contested in 1889-90. From 1990-91 it became known as the Castle Cup, and from 1996-97 by its current title...
, Wilmot was involved in a walk off. Rhodesia had been set 300 to win and in the final hour of the game they needed six more runs. A minimum of 20 overs had to be bowled in the final hour according to the rules. With Mike Procter
Mike Procter
Michael John Procter is a former South African cricketer. A fast bowler and hard hitting batsman, his chances for a long and productive test career were wrecked by South Africa's banishment from world cricket in the 1970s and 1980s...
and Paddy Clift
Paddy Clift
Patrick Bernard Clift was a Zimbabwean educated at St.George's College Harare and a first class cricketer for Leicestershire County Cricket Club. He was a right arm medium bowler and handy right-handed batsman...
at the crease and 3 wickets in hand, Wilmot led his team off the field while claiming falsely that the 20 overs had been bowled. Wilmot refused to re-enter the field and the umpires were forced to award the match to Rhodesia. The decision however was oddly overturned by the South African authorities and they declared the match a draw. As a result Rhodesia missed out on winning their maiden Currie Cup title.
In 2000 he was convicted of raping a 13 year old girl. After a long appeals process he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars with 3 of them suspended.http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,6119,2-7-1442_1334661,00.html
Death
On the 29th of February 2004, Wilmot committed suicide by shooting himself on his farm near GrahamstownGrahamstown
Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa and is the seat of the Makana municipality. The population of greater Grahamstown, as of 2003, was 124,758. The population of the surrounding areas, including the actual city was 41,799 of which 77.4% were black,...
. Although it is likely that he took his own life due to his impending imprisonment, he was also rumoured to be suffering from an incurable disease.http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/47981.html