Kieron Pollard, world-class all-rounder of the defending RAM SLAM T20 champions, the Cape Cobras, won’t take part in the remainder of the domestic T20-showpiece due to an injury to his right knee.
He will fly back to the Caribbean on Wednesday.
The injury occurred while the 28-year Pollard was fielding in the T20 match against the VKB Knights at Boland Park in Paarl on Sunday.
Despite experiencing some discomfort, he hammered an unbeaten 22 off 13 balls to power the Cobras to a win to entrench their third position on the log.
“We are severely disappointed about the loss of a stalwart like Kieron,” said Paul Adams, the Cape Cobras coach. “Kieron has given his all. The fact that he went out to bat after he got injured, underlines his dedication and commitment to the team. He has been an inspiration to the whole squad.”
Adams said Pollard’s record speaks for itself. He was the domestic RAM SLAM T20 Challenge player of the year in the 2014/2015 season and was at the summit of the Cobras’ batting averages (he averages 51.50 in the T20-format) at the time of the injury.
Yet mere statistics don’t do justice to Pollard’s contribution as his ability to change matches with his belligerence as a dashing batsman or with his expert change of pace with the ball, gave the Cobras the ascendancy in several matches the past season and a half.
Pollard had been on record saying the difference between winning and losing in RAM SLAM T20 Challenge matches is about “who blinks first”. The lanky all-rounder was almost always the one to emerge victorious when the dust settled, as he showed during his stylish display on Sunday.