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 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 did.
“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 said yesterday.
To make such a feat possible, Peterson will surely have a big role to play in helping his team achieve it. The Cobras, under the tutelage of former Proteas Test spinner Paul Adams, have a firm belief in employing a 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.
The other half of spin twins is the promising GF Linde. The lanky 22-year-old’s performances in this season’s RamSlam T20 Challenge have been vital.
Linde is the joint leading wicket-taker in the competition with 14 scalps, and could force the attacking Knights batsmen like Reeza Hendricks, Rilee Rossouw and Andre Russell on to the back foot.
“He is nice and tall, has a good action and really gives the ball a good rip,” Peterson said. - The Star