CONWAY BOUNCES BACK AS COETZEE FIRES UP: DSG TEAMMATES EMBRACE INTERNATIONAL RETURNS

Durban's Super Giants duo Devon Conway and Gerald Coetzee are relishing their respective comebacks to the international stage during the ongoing T20I series between the Black Caps and Proteas.

Conway enjoyed a solid Betway SA20 Season 4 with the Super Giants, striking 111 runs in just five matches at an average of 37.0 and strike-rate of 173.43, before leaving for India on international duty.

But unfortunately for the South African-born batter, he endured a bad run, averaging just 17 with a top score of 44 across four matches, and subsequently lost his place in the New Zealand top-order for the pending T20 World Cup. 

The Kiwis utilised the power-packed duo of Finn Allen and Tim Seifert upfront with the pair eventually destroying the Proteas in the T20 World Cup semi-final in Kolkata. 

Conway spent the entire T20 World Cup on the reserves bench and is now just happy to be back out on the park after being reinstated for the Proteas series.

After a failure in the first game - ironically dismissed by Coetzee - he bounced back with a match-winning 60 in the second match at Seddon Park to level up the series.

“Yeah, it's been a pretty quiet couple of months for me. I think, you know, going over to India and not playing, not featuring in that World Cup, it's been a nice opportunity for me to have my feet up and watch the boys do their thing in the World Cup,” Conway said.

“But yeah, just getting the opportunity to play. It's been nice to contribute and be back with the boys and the group.”

Conway also said that he’s changed his approach by not trying to take too much on his shoulders, especially during the Powerplay.

"Yeah, I think for me personally it's about trying to build a partnership, just lean on my partner, try and calm myself down. Because in T20 cricket, you're really trying to push it on. So yeah, try and just fall back on building a partnership and keeping it simple.”

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He admits, though, that it has been a challenge facing a fired-up Coetzee, especially in the first match when he was cramped for space and could only top edge an attempted pull shot to fellow DSG teammate Tony de Zorzi at short mid-wicket.

“Gerald coming around the wicket with the new ball has been something that's pretty different for me to face. But I think just for me, it's just trying to keep it simple and just adapt to what they're trying to do,” he said.

For Coetzee, the return to international cricket has been more emotional. The fast bowler has suffered a spate of injuries over the past two years, and only returned to action during the latter stages of Betway SA20 Season 4.

Coetzee featured in just three matches, and subsequently missed out on selection for the T20 World Cup altogether. 

So, when he was recalled for the New Zealand tour, he was understandably elated and has been going full throttle in the opening two matches, claiming 2/14 and 1/28. 

“I am very excited but also just very happy to be back. I really made a point to try and enjoy it,” Coetzee said.

He also feels that his maturity levels have developed tremendously in the period battling recovery.

“I think anyone who gets injured and then having to work their way back is always hard and I think I had recurring injuries, which is very difficult, but I wouldn't change it for anything,” he added.

“You always learn something, you always get a bit better and it always means so much when you get back here. So yeah, it has been challenging, but it's also been, you know, it's been a blessed time.”

Conway and Coetzee will go head-to-head again in the third T20 at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday.