Cricket
Philander ends his UK 'recce'
2012-05-21 11:13
Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer
Cape Town – Job well done ... that would probably be a
simple but fitting way to sum up Proteas bowling sensation Vernon Philander’s
five-match stint with Somerset in England’s County Championship.
GALLERY: Past weekend in picturesThe bustling Cape Cobras fast-medium bowler, who averages an
incredible 14.15 with the ball after seven Tests, returns to South Africa now
after playing five four-day matches for the Taunton-based county.
Philander bagged 23 wickets in his intentional, short
posting there at a tidy 21.34, including two five-wicket hauls.
In doing so, he helped lift Somerset to a respectable third
out of nine teams in division one before his departure, and left as joint top
wicket-taker there with medium-pacer Peter Trego, who has played one game more.
He made his final appearance in the drawn encounter with
Surrey at The Oval, which ended on Saturday, claiming four for 88 and one for
42.
The London venue is where South Africa will play the first
of three Tests against England from July 19, so that was a particularly useful
“reconnaissance” exercise for Philander, who is expected to form a lethal
three-pronged pace attack with Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel in the top-of-table
series.
He signed off by issuing a tweet saying: “Thanks to
#somersetcc for a great time. Great lads to work with and awesome crowd to play
for. Trust and hope we’ll see soon.”
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