Roy "Tiger" Lance dies

10 November 2010 - 20:46 By Sapa
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South African sporting great Herbert Roy "Tiger" Lance, 70, died in hospital in Johannesburg, nearly four weeks after being injured in a car crash, said cricket administrator Ali Bacher.

"True to his character and nature, he battled it out right to the end," said Bacher.

Lance dislocated his right hip, sustained internal bleeding in the lung, and possibly a perforated diaphragm in the head-on collision near Leeuwkop Prison, in Sunninghill, on October 15.

At the time, police said Lance's car was hit by a woman driving on the wrong side of the road. She was critically injured in the crash.

One of the "finest ever" all round sportsmen, Lance played cricket for South Africa with distinction, said Bacher.

Born on June 6, 1940 in Pretoria, Lance played 13 Test matches for South Africa between 1962 and 1970, scoring 591 runs at an average of 28.14 and taking 12 wickets at 39.91.

He played 103 first class games for North Eastern Transvaal, Northern Transvaal and Transvaal. He scored 5336 first class runs at an average of 34.87 and claimed 167 wickets at average of 25.65.

"He batted with distinction at number five position, was an outstanding slip catcher and a very good medium fast seam bowler," said Bacher, who played most of his cricket career with Lance either for Transvaal or South Africa.

Lance also played soccer for Rangers and was an outstanding hockey player, he said.

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