Desmond John Schonegevel (9 October 1934 – 6 July 2021) was a South African cricketer who played 100 matches of first-class cricket in South Africa between 1954 and 1977.

Des Schonegevel
Personal information
Full name
Desmond John Schonegevel
Born(1934-10-09)9 October 1934
Bloemfontein, Orange Free State, South Africa
Died6 July 2021(2021-07-06) (aged 86)
Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off-spin
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1954–55 to 1964–65Orange Free State
1965–66 to 1975–76Griqualand West
Career statistics
Competition FC List A
Matches 100 6
Runs scored 5168 113
Batting average 31.51 22.60
100s/50s 10/23 0/0
Top score 151 41
Balls bowled 8885 162
Wickets 118 2
Bowling average 29.34 64.50
5 wickets in innings 3 0
10 wickets in match 0 n/a
Best bowling 6/29 1/28
Catches/stumpings 76/– 1/–
Source: Cricinfo, 16 August 2017

Cricket career

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For Orange Free State

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A solid middle-order batsman and off-spin bowler, Des Schonegevel made his first-class debut for Orange Free State in the 1954–55 season and played regularly for Orange Free State until the end of the 1964–65 season. His highest score for Orange Free State was 151 against Border in 1963–64, made in a little over six hours,[1] and his best figures were 6 for 103 against Griqualand West in 1958–59.[2] He captained Orange Free State from 1962–63 to 1964–65. Against Transvaal B in 1959–60 he scored 115, adding 280 for the third wicket with his captain, Clive Richardson, and setting a Currie Cup third-wicket record.[3]

For Griqualand West

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He moved to Kimberley in 1965 and played for Griqualand West from 1965–66 until 1975–76, captaining them in 1968–69. In his third match for Griqualand West he top-scored in each innings with 79 not out and 138 not out against Natal B; in the second innings he and the number 11 batsman put on an unbroken partnership of 87 to avoid defeat.[4]

In 1966–67 his 112 against Orange Free State helped Griqualand West achieve their first victory since 1959–60.[5] Against the Australians in 1969–70 he top-scored in each innings, scoring 49 and 85, defying the Australian spin bowlers "with dour concentration", but this time Griqualand West lost by an innings.[6]

His highest score for Griqualand West was 138 not out against Natal B, as above, and his best bowling figures were 6 for 29 against Border in 1967–68.[7]

Administration

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After he retired from playing, Schonegevel became a prominent coach and administrator in Griqualand West/Northern Cape. He was the first chairperson of Griqualand West Cricket after unity in 1991, and led the unity process in the region, under which all the racially-separate cricket organisations became one.[8]

Business career

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Schonegevel co-founded Desnics Planet Sport, a sporting goods business, in Kimberley in the 1960s, and continued to manage or co-manage the business until his retirement.[9] He died in Kimberley in July 2021, aged 86.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Border v Orange Free State 1963-64". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Griqualand West v Orange Free State 1958-59". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  3. ^ The Cricketer, Spring Annual, 1960, pp. 8–9.
  4. ^ "Griqualand West v Natal B 1965-66". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  5. ^ Wisden 1968, pp. 926–28.
  6. ^ Wisden 1971, pp. 890–91.
  7. ^ "Griqualand West v Border 1967-68". CricketArchive. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  8. ^ "CSA: NCC mourns the passing of Des Schonegevel". Cricexec. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  9. ^ "A family store that serves the whole community". Sports Trader. 1 April 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
  10. ^ "Desmond Schonegevel". Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
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