World Sports Betting Cape Cobras all-rounder Rory Kleinveldt officially retired from first-class cricket at the conclusion of the Cobras’ Four-Day Domestic series match against the Warriors at PPC Newlands on Thursday.
Kleinveldt Tweet soon after the match, “Finally lost the love for the toil!!!! Been a great ride and made some unbelievable memories. Love to all my teammates, coaches, family and friends for the support over the 17 years.”
Kleinveldt captured 454 wickets in 148 first-class matches for Western Province, the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras and Northampton.
His 9-65, a career-best, came for Northampton, in the 2017-2018 season in which he nipped out 50 first-class batsmen.
Kleinveldt also represented the Standard Bank Proteas in four Test matches, ten One-Day Internationals and six T20 Internationals.
A burly bowling all-rounder, Kleinveldt won the first match of the Four-day Domestic Series against the VKB Knights with a four and a towering six when the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras started shakily.
As a youngster, he was a member of South Africa’s U19 team which made the final of the 2002 Junior Cricket World Cup.
He was fast-tracked into first-class cricket by Western Province in the 2002/2003 season.
Kleinveldt made his debut for South Africa in the Test arena against Australia in the 2012/2013 season and captured 3-65 at Adelaide versus the Baggy Greens.
A hard-hitting lower order batsman and a bowler who seams the ball both ways, Kleinveldt will remain part of the World Sports Betting Cape Cobras’ white-ball campaigns.