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Smit the man of many parts
22/04/2008 15:09 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Daryn Smit has been a key component in the Nashua Dolphins re-emergence as a power in South African cricket this summer.
Not only has he been the best wicketkeeper-batsman in South African domestic cricket - something that has been acknowledged in his selection for the SA Emerging squad touring Australia later this year - but he has been one of the best spin bowlers as well!
Best of all he is a leg spinner. Yes, he is part of that rare species in South African cricket, the wrist spinner.
So don't be surprised, whether you go to Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Friday evening for the Standard Bank Pro20 final or whether you spend three hours glued to your TV screen, to see Smit remove his wicketkeeping pads and gloves after approximately six overs of the Nashua Titans innings.
He will hand them over to Pierre de Bruyn, a Nashua Titans old boy, and start swinging his right arm energetically before entering the fray as a key member of the Nashua Dolphins attack.
Smit, who is capable of turning the ball sharply, has taken 10 wickets in the Standard Bank Pro20 this summer at an average of only 11.
Regular choice
More importantly for this type of cricket, his economy rate has been comfortably below six runs to the over which makes him a key performer.
Smit, a 24-year-old, who has only in his second season as a regular choice for the Nashua Dolphins, is part of the outstanding South African under-19 class of 2003 that has already contributed AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and Vernon Philander to South Africa's international squad and it will be surprising if the Dolphins, along with one of his opponents on Friday night, Nashua Titans top order batsman Faf du Plessis, doesn't reach the same level in the foreseeable future.
Smit and Du Plessis are two of the many youngsters who have broken through in South African cricket this summer to make the country's future look rosy indeed.
There will be other youngsters of the calibre of this duo strutting their stuff in Friday night's Standard Bank Pro20 final and these include the likes of rookie Nashua Titans all-rounder, Roelfie van der Merwe, and Nashua Dolphins left-arm speedster Yusuf Abdullah.
Van der Merwe had been impressive enough in the league rounds of the Standard Bank Pro20 but he really stepped into the big league by his performance and attitude in last Sunday's semi-final against the Nashua Cape Cobras at Sahara Park Newlands.
Victory
His run out of Proteas captain Graeme Smith when he fielded the ball on his right-hand side at backward point, then spun around and in almost one movement threw down the stumps left-handed at the bowler's wicket was a pivotal moment of the match.
He then bowled the last over with his left-arm spinners and, after being struck for a six first ball, proceeded to hold his nerve and shut down the Nashua Cape Cobras who were unable to score the eight runs needed for victory off the last three balls.
Instead it was the Nashua Titans novice who picked up two wickets.
"I liked what I saw of him," admitted national coach and selector Mickey Arthur. "You could see that he wanted to bowl that last over. It was the same with his fielding. He was always looking for the ball to come to him."
Friday night will be a time of celebration for whichever side lifts the Standard Bank Pro20 trophy.
But it will also be a moment for South African cricket to celebrate and savour as a generation of rich young talent parades its potential on the highest stage of the domestic game.
- SAPA
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