As one of the international players in the Guyana Amazon Warriors franchise, South African batsman Cameron Delport will have tons of responsibilities come August 8 when the sixth edition Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) bowls off in Guyana.
He is a batsman who has added a lot of impetus to the Warriors at the top of the order. It is left to be seen whether he will partner the in-form Luke Ronchi. The Warriors have opted for a mixed team as per normal; with a few power-hitting all-rounders and Delport’s addition could see him or Windies young prodigy Shimron Hetmyer partnering Ronchi.
Cameron Delport is a dynmo with the bat at the top of the order
A product of the famous Kwa-Zulu Natal county team in South Africa, a club which is famous for producing all-rounder legend Lance Klusener. Some of Delport’s club mates include two South Africa’s current Test players’ spinner Keshav Maharaj and fast-bowling all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo.
Delport has been somewhat of a T20 mercenary. His aggressive nature was tailor-made for T20 and he has made full use of it by representing world-wide franchises such as: Lantau Galaxy Riders, Leicestershire, Royal Bengal Tigers, South Africa ‘A’, South Africa Emerging Players, Dhaka Dynamites, Dolphins, Sydney Thunder among others.
With over 3000 T20 runs under his with three centuries to boast, the 28 year-old has also tasted the CPL atmosphere before having represented current Champs Trinbago Knight Riders. His impact was more significant as he hit a match-winning 50 in the 2015 finals to help the then named ‘Trinidad & Tobago Red Force’; to their maiden title.
He should further bolster the franchise’s chance of capturing the elusive title. The batting all-rounder first made his name playing for Leicestershire in England’s NatWest T20 Blast tournament as well as the Australian Big Bash League T20.
Only in last year’s edition he spanked a career-best 109 from 59 balls against Nottinghamshire which took Leicestershire to the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals; for only the second time in 11 seasons. His last recent piece of action was curtailed when then Lahore Qalandars were miserably knocked out of the 2018 Pakistan Super League (PSL), after losing seven of their 10 matches; thus finishing in last place.
A renowned six-hitter and a brilliant fielder, Delport played just two of those 10 games for Lahore scoring just 8 and hitting two sixes in is other knock of 15. With his selection to the Guyana franchise a good one on paper, it will be left to the big Protea to deliver similar success and help win a title as he did three years ago.
