MIDDLESEX BOOSTED BY EARLY RETURN OF DE VILLIERS

HAVING smashed another half-century for Middlesex last Thursday night at Lord’s against Surrey, his third 50 in just five games, AB de Villiers has confirmed he will return to Middlesex for the end of the 2019 Vitality Blast campaign.

While previously publicised that de Villiers would be returning for the knockout stages of the competition should Middlesex qualify, de Villiers confirmed to a live Sky Cricket audience that he will in fact return for Middlesex’s final two group matches of the competition ahead of the knockout stages, and would be available for the quarter-final clash and Finals Day at Edgbaston if the side progress.

Mr 360 has been a revelation since joining Stuart Law’s side, hitting knocks of 88(no) on debut against Essex, 88 against Somerset and then Thursday’s 64 against Surrey. His tally of 253 runs have been scored at an average of 84.33 – the highest in the competition to date, at an amazing strike-rate of 191.66.

De Villiers left Middlesex in third place in the South Group table, just two points off top spot, with a crucial clash against league leaders Sussex, in Hove, on Friday. They failed to go top after losing by four wickets but bounced back to beat Gloucestershire by nine runs in a weather-affected game on Sunday.

Middlesex are now in second place in the group with a better run rate than Kent Spitfires who lost to Somerset on Saturday.

Should they be in the frame for qualification, de Villiers will return for the remainder of the tournament, beginning with Middlesex’s away match at Southampton against Hampshire on Thursday August 29.

ALEX PANTLING/GETTY IMAGES AB De Villiers plays a shot during the Vitality T20 Blast fixture between Middlesex and Surrey at Lord’s on Thursday. The South African has been a huge hit for Middlesex in the tournament so far