Kurtlyn aiming high at his new UK club
KWAZULU-NATAL Inland all-rounder Kurtlyn Mannikam has hit the ground running in the colours of Radlett Cricket Club in England.
The 21-year-old is hoping to get some valuable game time during the South African off-season before he returns to the Pietermaritzburg-based union.
After six games, Mannikam is the top wicket taker at the club with 11 sticks to his name, and this placed him in fourth position on the Saracens Hertfordshire League bowling rankings.
Adjusting to life in North London has not been easy for his first stint as an overseas professional, but he says he is starting to feel at home in the affluent community of Radlett.
“I feel very welcomed here and always respected,” Mannikam explained. “When it comes to playing for Radlett, it truly is a privilege. My teammates are extremely talented players with a great passion for the game.
“It did, however, take me a long time to adapt to life here as it’s very different to back home, and being here alone is very tough. But over the months it has become easier for me.”
Mannikam made his pro debut for KZN Inland in 2015, during Cricket South Africa’s Africa T20 Cup.
He played his maiden first-class game in February 2016, and has since become a prominent presence in Shane Burger’s team.
He is hoping his spell in England prepares him well for the upcoming domestic season, and was pleasantly surprised by the competitive nature of club cricket in the UK.
He continued: “I was really taken aback by the standard of this league.
“It is a very high standard of cricket, much higher than I expected. It’s a pleasant surprise and I’m really enjoying the challenge of playing at this level in such different conditions.”
While Mannikam has managed some success with his off-spin bowling, he hasn’t managed to get going with the bat thus far.
“I have struggled to adjust to the English slow and low wickets but I’ve recently been finding some form.
“I scored 46 in a National Cup game last weekend and that has been my best score in England.”
Mannikam has set some lofty targets for himself and hopes to achieve them by the end of the season.
“Before I leave I would like to achieve the award of the highest wicket taker in the league and at Radlett,” he concluded. “I also want to push on with the bat and score more than 600 runs for the club.”