Bob Vance (cricketer)

Bob Vance

Bob Vance in 1962
Personal information
Full name	Robert Alan Vance
Born	(1924-12-29)29 December 1924 Wellington, New Zealand
Died	7 November 1994(1994-11-07) (aged 69) Wellington
Batting	Right-handed
Relations	Bert Vance (son)
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1947-48 to 1961-62	Wellington
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 41 Runs scored 1510 Batting average 21.57 100s/50s 1/7 Top score 109 Balls bowled 36 Wickets 3 Bowling average 3.00 5 wickets in innings 0 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 2/8 Catches/stumpings 34/0
Source: Cricinfo, 21 September 2015

Robert Alan “Bob” Vance CBE (29 December 1924 – 7 November 1994) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Wellington from 1948 to 1962. He was chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council from 1978 to 1987.

Vance was a member of the Wellington Colts XI that was undefeated in the 1946-47 season. He made his first-class debut for Wellington in 1947-48, and established his position as an opening batsman in 1950-51, when he scored 75 and 29 in a victory over Auckland. He remained in the team, sometimes as an opener, sometimes batting at number three or four. He made his only century, 109 against Central Districts, on Christmas Day 1956.

He captained Wellington in 1953-54 and 1961-62 when John Reid, Wellington's captain from 1951-52 to 1964-65, was touring South Africa with the Test team. In 1961-62 Wellington won their first four matches inside two days and won the Plunket Shield. After the season Vance retired from first-class cricket.

He was chairman of the New Zealand Cricket Council from 1978 to 1987, and managed the New Zealand cricket team in England in 1986. The R. A. Vance Stand at Basin Reserve in Wellington, built in 1979-80, is named in his honour.

His son Bert played Test cricket for New Zealand in the 1980s.