ROYAL Harare Golf Club has expressed sadness at the sudden passing away of former cricketer Laurence De Grandhomme, the father of New Zealand international Colin who died last week. He was 61.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
De Grandhomme, who was a member of the Royal Harare Golf Club for nearly three decades, played 16 first-class games for the country before and after independence while his eight List A appearances for the national side were also during the same period of time.
Announcing De Grandhomme’s passing, Royal Harare general manager Ian Mathieson said: “On behalf of the club president, board chairman, captains and members of the club, it is with deep sadness that we offer our condolences to Susan and Ian De Grandhomme and their families on the sudden and unexpected passing of Mr Laurence L De Grandhomme.
“He was 61. The late Laurence joined Royal Harare in 1988, making him a member of more than 29 years of good standing.
Laurence will be missed by all who knew him, both on and off the golf course.
“The family will advise the funeral arrangements as soon as they have been finalised.”
Colin De Grandhomme, his son, represented Zimbabwe at the Under-19 World Cup in 2004, but left the country to settle in New Zealand in 2006, making his ODI debut in 2012 and breaking into the Test team last year.
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The Harare-born all-rounder is now an integral part of New Zealand’s senior national side and has played eight Tests, 12 ODIs and 11 Twenty20s for the Kiwis.
He was expected in the country yesterday after withdrawing from New Zealand’s ODI squad for the series against West Indies to be with his family.
“This is obviously extremely sad news for Colin and his family and we’re all thinking of them at the moment,” New Zealand Cricket selector Gavin Larsen said.
“Right now the most important thing is that Colin is with his family.”
New Zealand Cricket said it did not know when de Grandhomme Jnr would return.
De Grandhomme Jnr was in great form in the Test series against West Indies, striking 105 off 74 balls in the Wellington Test to take the record for the fastest maiden Test century.
His innings was also the second-fastest Test hundred by a New Zealand batsman. He struck another rapid half-century in Hamilton as New Zealand went on to sweep the series 2-0.
