Name Rupert Smidt Died August 3, 1986 | Role Cricket Player | |
Rupert de Smidt (23 November 1883 – 3 August 1986) was a South African cricketer who played first-class cricket for Western Province and is the third oldest of sixteen first-class cricketers known to have surpassed 100 years of age.
Born in Cape Town, de Smidt played four matches for Western Province during the 1912/13 season. A leg break bowler he took 16 wickets at an average of 18.00, finishing his only first-class season as Western Province leading wicket-taker. His best bowling figures of 4/40 (4 wickets for 40 runs) came on his debut against Transvaal and followed him taking 4/65 in the first innings.
De Smidt was a lower order batsman, batting at number eight in four of his five innings, he scored 74 runs at an average of 18.50, with a highest score of 42 not out against Orange Free State.
De Smidt died aged 102 years 253 days, a national record, in Cape Town. His Wisden obituary stated he 'was believed to be the oldest first-class cricketer'. The record passed to Jim Hutchinson in August 1999.