Zaahier Adams
FIVE years ago Robin Peterson packed up all his belongings, put his cricket coffin in the boot, and made his way down the N2 from Port Elizabeth to start a new career with the Cape Cobras in Cape Town.
Having played for Easter Province and the Warriors since a teenager for almost a decade already back then, it was a big decision for the all-rounder, but upon his arrival in the Mother City, HE boldly claimed “I have moved because I want to win trophies.”
If that was Peterson’s sole motivation, it certainly has been vindicated with the 35-year-old forming an integral part of a golden era for the Cobras. The Western Cape franchise has won six titles and shared another two during this success-laden period.
And Peterson and the Cobras have the opportunity to add some more silverware to their bulging trophy cabinet tomorrow when they host the Knights at Newlands in the RamSlam T20 Challenge final.
“(Laughs) Yes ... I did say that. It was something I really wanted to do when I arrived here. I wanted to win trophies, and I still do. I have lost none of that hunger for success. It’s been great coming here, and doing as well as we have done. Certainly best move ever!
“But we want more. We have enjoyed some good success over the years here at Newlands on ‘finals night’, and we want to add Friday to the list of memorable evenings. Success just makes you hungrier for more success,” Peterson told the Cape Times yesterday.
To make such a feat possible, Peterson will surely have a big role to play in helping to achieve it. The Cobras, under the tutelage of former Proteas Test spinner Paul Adams, have a firm belief in employing the dual-spin tactic in Twenty20 cricket.
Adams believes spin is a vital factor in not only squeezing the opposition batsmen during the middle overs, but also as a potential strike-weapon when crucial wickets are required.
It is here when Peterson comes to the fore, with his innate ability to seek out out the pressure situations, when others prefer to hide out in the shadows.
He has performed the role on numerous occasions for the Proteas of late, either being brave enough to bowl in the six powerplay overs when only two fielders are allowed outside of the 30-yard circle as boundary protection or during the death overs.
“I have bowled anywhere and everywhere in T20 cricket hey,” he quipped.
“I don’t mind where I bowl, I think it is one of my strenghts that I can offer the captain all those types of options. Perhaps ‘I get off’a bit on the pressure. Someone once told me when I was very young that I need to pick a fight before I go on to the field in order to do my best, perhaps the ‘pressure’ part of the game is where I pick my fights.”
However, like any good superhero in the action comics, there has be to an able sidekick to provide support. And the promising GF Linde is just that, although to be fair to the lanky 22-year-old, his performances in this season’s RamSlam T20 Challenge have often been the headline act.
Linde is the joint leading wicket-taker in the competition with 14 scalps, and could force attacking Knights batsmen like Reeza Hendricks, Rilee Rossouw and Andre Russell on to the back foot.
“I have really liked the look of George since I first saw him a couple of seasons back. He is nice and tall, has a good action and really gives the ball a good rip. I am glad that he’s got an opportunity and taken it in the way he has.
“There’s a dearth of left-arm spinners in South Africa and if he continues to do as well as he has, there is no telling what opportunities lay ahead for him,” Peterson said.