Robert Bentley (cricketer)

Robert Mulock Bentley (born 3 November 1958 in Bindura, Rhodesia) is a former first-class cricketer who played for both his native Rhodesia and Natal in the Currie Cup.

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]