Verreynne welcomes batting form ahead of Aussie tour

Western Province captain Kyle Verreynne believes scoring a double century against the Rocks has stood him in good stead for SA’S Test tour of Australia.

Verreynne took centre stage knocking an unbeaten 201 as the Cape-based side defeated their neighbours in their CSA 4Day Series clash at Newlands at the weekend.

WP had declared on 557 for five on day two with a double century from Verreynne and a century from their opener Tony de Zorzi (163).

The 25-year-old Pretoriaborn wicketkeeper said the double ton came at the right time in his career.

“I’m very happy, any time that I can contribute to the team I get excited and that ups my game as well — and the contribution resulted in us getting a win we needed, which was important. Sometimes you score runs and it doesn’t really help the team to get over the line,” said Verreynne.

“It’s really impressive what the guys up front did, I think I can’t come in and do what I did if they haven’t laid a good foundation. It wasn’t an easy wicket on day one but what Tony and Eddie [Moore] did was special.

“It was easy for me and George [Linde] to just finish the job because of them and also our seamers were exceptional as well the game went on and the wicket seemed to get flat and flatter.”

Verreynne is part of the 16man squad that will be guided by interim coach Malibongwe Maketa for the upcoming threematch Test series against Australia, which is set to get under way on December 17 at the Gabba in Brisbane.

He knows what’s at stake in the tour Down Under but Verreynne acknowledges the hard work ahead his focus now is to help WP. “The runs I scored mean a lot

I won’t lie even though I don’t really focus on the tour at the moment. We still have one or two games before we jet off to Australia, so let’s see what happens in the upcoming game against the Knights,” he said.

“Everyone wants to shine in their careers, and so do I, the focus is here now but it’s nice to score good winning runs before the international tour. That is my goal now, focus on my game and try to help the team as much as I can, be it with Province or the Proteas. So, yeah, I am looking forward to the tour.”