• Saffas in the 2021 County Championship

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    South Africans have for years dominated the runs and wickets lists of county cricket and 2021 is potentially no different. With the First Class season in full swing, CARL LEWIS scans some of the South Africans in action and how they’ve done so far, highlighting their best performances.

    Batsmen

    David Bedingham – Durham

    Innings: 7

    Runs: 567

    Average: 113.4

    HS: 257

    Durham took a punt by naming Bedingham as one of their overseas pros but this decision has paid off handsomely – as it stands he is topping the run-scoring charts. The former Wynberg boy struck a career-best 180 not out in the season opener and, two games later, he made Durham’s second-highest Championship score in their history with a dominant 257, backing that up with a 50 in the second innings. He will be back in South Africa playing for Western Province in the upcoming summer.

    Stiaan Van Zyl – Sussex

    Innings: 10

    Runs: 328

    Average: 32.8

    HS: 113

    Van Zyl has made an OK start to the County Championship for Sussex averaging over just below 33. His solitary century this season came in the second match against Glamorgan. The former Protea followed that up with 79 and most recently 72, but that will feel like missed opportunities for a big score. He’s back in SA domestic cricket for Boland later this year.

    Dane Vilas – Lancashire

    Innings: 6

    Runs: 317

    Average: 52.83

    HS: 189

    Vilas smashed 189 in the season opener against Sussex. He’s made a handful of starts since then but just the one 50. Vilas is captaining the side and is a key figure for Lancashire.

    Hashim Amla – Surrey

    Innings: 7

    Runs: 308

    Average: 51.33

    HS: 215*

    The SA icon kicked off the season with 50 against Gloucestershire but has struggled to get going though despite averaging over 50. He did give a timely reminder of his class against Hampshire with a double century and a 257-run partnership with Ollie Pope. His much-needed experience, character and leadership will return to domestic cricket for Western Province.

    Bowlers

    Simon Harmer – Essex

    Overs: 274.4

    Wickets: 22

    Average: 27.18

    BB: 5-57

    County cricket’s perennial top wicket-taker has picked up where he left off. Harmer already has a 10-wicket haul and has twice picked up four wickets in an innings. He is fourth on the wicket-taking list as it stands. Added to that, he also has two unbeaten half-centuries to his name.

    Dane Paterson – Nottinghamshire

    Overs: 114.3

    Wickets: 15

    Average: 23

    BB: 3-33

    Paterson has been solid for Nottinghamshire, who top Group 1 of the County Championship. In his seven innings, he’s picked up 15 wickets and has only failed to take at least one wicket in one of them. Paterson has formed a destructive fast-bowling unit alongside Stuart Broad, Luke Fletcher and Lyndon James. He’ll be playing his domestic cricket with Eastern Province.

    Kyle Abbott – Hampshire

    Overs: 141

    Wickets: 15

    Average 27.14

    BB: 3-27

    Similar to Paterson, Abbott has been solid, bagging 15 wickets but his Pakistani teammate, Mohammed Abbas (18), has overshadowed him in terms of wickets taken and standout performances. Also like Paterson, he failed to take a wicket on only one occasion this season. He also has one 50 to his name.

    Wayne Parnell – Northamptonshire

    Overs: 79.1

    Wickets: 13

    Average: 24.61

    BB: 5-64

    Parnell hit the ground running with the bat scoring a 50 in his first match of the season. In his second, he let the ball do the talking and picked up five wickets in each innings for a 10-wicket haul. Parnell will be back playing domestic cricket for Western Province next season.

    Duanne Olivier – Yorkshire

    Overs: 136.1

    Wickets: 13

    Average: 35.69

    BB: 4-61

    It hasn’t been a spectacular season for Olivier but he’s been effective for Yorkshire, who have yet to lose a match so far. He’s picked up wickets in every match he’s played, but failed to take more than four over the course of a match. He will be playing for the Central Gauteng Lions later this year.

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    Andre Huisamen