Hardus Viljoen, called up to help Kent push for promotion in the County Championship, announced his arrival by taking five wickets in his first match.
The Highveld Lions and Proteas paceman smashed through the Gloucestershire middle-order, taking 5-55 and restricting the hosts to 221 in 94 overs. It was his 20th fifth-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
His efforts will do much to enhance the reputation of South Africans in England, and in Kent particularly. Kagiso Rabada had a one-month stint at the county and made a similarly impressive debut, taking two wickets in a man-of-the-match performance in a T20.
Viljoen is looking to build on his one-Test career that started with the wicket of Alastair Cook, first ball. That was as good as it got for Viljoen in the third Test of England’s series away to South Africa this year as his robust, aggressive style was successfully countered. The winter has been spent finding form in Zimbabwe and Australia as part of South Africa A.
He had a week at home before he flew over to Canterbury for the rest of the season.
Elsewhere, there was another seismic impact when Dieter Klein, the North-West quick who was rapidly promoted into the Leicestershire first team, took 2-7 in four overs as Essex tried to respond to Leicestershire’s first innings of 238, in which Klein scored 15, with three cheeky fours batting at 10. Essex closed on 13-2.
Klein, who played for the SA Invitation team against England last year, played just one game for the Second XI in July, taking five wickets, before being promoted.
Kent v Glos scorecard
