Yorkshire find they can count on Keshav
PROTEAS star Keshav Maharaj claimed a 10-wicket haul for Yorkshire in the English County Championship last Tuesday, the sixth time he has accomplished the feat since making his Test debut. Yorkshire defeated Somerset by an innings and 73 runs at Headingley. “It was great,” said Maharaj, who returned to Durban at the weekend. The tournament resumes next month. “I guess I had the conditions in my favour. That is why I did so well.” Yorkshire scored 502 all-out in their first innings. Gary Ballance top scored with 111, and Maharaj contributed 72 Somerset, in reply, were bowled out for 196, with Maharaj taking 7/52 in the first innings. Yorkshire asked Somerset to follow on and they were dismissed for 251. Maharaj claimed 3/75. Maharaj’s return was the best by a Yorkshire slow bowler since Phil Carrick’s 7-44 against Derbyshire at Sheffield in 1983. For those who like their statistics, they were also the best figures for Yorkshire since pace bowler Ryan Sidebottom’s 7/44 against Middlesex at Scarborough in 2014, and the best at Headingley since Sidebottom’s 7/37 against Somerset in 2011. The 29-year-old, of Avoca, who signed a contract with Yorkshire to play in the Championship, said playing in England was a great experience. “I made my South African ODI debut here, so it’s always a nice place to return.” Maharaj has so far claimed 94 Test wickets for the Proteas. After the County Championships, he will prepare for SA’s tour of India in October and England at year end. ■ Eshlin Vedan reports that Trisha Chetty has been named in the South African Women’s Emerging squad which is due to play in a home tour against Bangladesh from this week. The series will consist of three One Day International fixtures and three T20s. This will be an opportunity for the wicket-keeper to work her way back into the Proteas fold following a lengthy absence. The 31-year-old is aiming to be as positive as possible with both bat and gloves. “My aim for the upcoming series for Bangladesh is to be as positive as I can be with both bat and gloves. I’ve been training and focusing more on fitness and conditioning for the last six weeks, the next step for me is now to focus on my skills and I feel that the Bangladesh tour will help me to do just that.” Chetty, who has amassed more than 105 caps for the Proteas, will be one of the leaders in the team which is made up of mostly up and coming players. “We have a good group of youngsters and a few SA players in the team so it’s definitely a good balance. “We are looking forward to the series” she added. Chetty has endured a difficult past year after suffering a back injury and last played for the Proteas in November. “All I want to do now is be positive in whatever situation I’m dealt with and I think having been in that situation has changed my mindset about a lot of things, about being positive, about developing the work ethic that will get me where I want to be, about fighting hard to get back into the team and not to give up.”