Smit confident ahead of domestic season

A RECORD-breaking and statistical leader-board topping stint abroad has left Sunfoil Dolphins’ batsman, Daryn Smit, full of confidence and renewed energy ahead of the upcoming 2015/16 South African domestic cricket season.

The middle order batsman scored 1 108 runs for English county, Lancashire, which saw him standing head and shoulders above the rest with the bat, overseas professionals included. The former Northwood School pupil also used his handy leg-spin, which reaped 65 scalps with a best of 6/22.

“Apparently, to pass the thousand league runs for the season mark in July is quite unheard of, and while stats are not really why we play the game, they do give a perspective as to how well or how badly things are going. My current stats show that things have gone really, really well for me with the bat while I’m also the leading wicket taker, so the bowling has gone really well too,” explained a pleased Smit.

“I’ve already re-signed to come back to Ramsbottom again next year and I think three years in a row at the same club for a professional is pretty rare, so that shows how well its gone over here for me,” he added.

Such has been the weight of his efforts abroad that Smit could yet become only the fifth person in the Lancashire league’s history to achieve ‘the double’ of 1 000 runs and 100 wickets in the same season; this despite having to head home four weeks short of the UK season’s conclusion.

While his successes on the field can be appreciated by all, some time with his wife, Sarah, in a fresh environment has also been a positive Smit has taken from his stint at Ramsbottom.

“Things are going brilliantly here in the UK. We have really had a great time over here; our families have come over for a while, we’ve travelled a bit and done the whole ‘Tommy the Tourist’ thing and, after 14 years of first class cricket, it has been fantastic to break the monotony of staying at home for another winter.”

While having enjoyed his time abroad, Smit is also looking forward to returning to home and contributing to the Sunfoil Dolphins cause.

“I’m still loving my cricket as much as always and I’m playing some of the best cricket of my career,” said Smit. “I’m looking forward to getting home and transferring that to Dolphins cricket.”