MEET THE ROOKIE: NQABA PETER

When Paarl Royals captain David Miller called over Nqaba Peter to deliver the final over against Sunrisers Eastern Cape at St George's Park during Betway SA20 Season 2 there were certainly a few eyebrows raised.

Not least that Peter had only eight runs to defend, but primarily for the fact that the Rookie was making his SA20 debut and had conceded 14 runs in his opening over earlier in the match.

But Miller had seen something in the 21-year-old leg-spinner during the preceding weeks he had spent in the Royals camp.

There was a steely determination and an intense willingness to succeed.

WATCH NOW: Peter's rollercoaster debut

And when Peter deceived the well-set Temba Bavuma through the air to have the former Proteas' T20 captain caught in the deep by Dane Vilas off the very first ball, it seemed Miller’s party trick may well reap dividends.

Peter increased the pressure on the Sunrisers by conceding just a single and double off the next two deliveries to leave the home side needing five runs off the last three balls.

Unfortunately for Peter and the Royals there would be no fairytale ending as it was Patrick Kruger who won the battle of the nerves as he belted a boundary followed by a towering six as the Sunrisers all-rounder took his team home.

But there's no doubt Peter was richer for the experience as he recollects that pivotal moment in his career and particularly having the likes of Miller, England white-ball captain Jos Buttler and Proteas stars Lungi Ngidi and Andile Phehlukwayo to guide him.

“In the change room, there's Lungi, Andile, Shamsi … guys I watched on TV.

“I don't know if there's a word to describe how it really feels to be around them. It's definitely an experience every cricketer should be able to experience,” Peter said.

“I had some mentorship from the guys. Obviously I was a bit nervous and didn't know what to expect. They were pretty chilled and nobody was really upright.

“They are stars, but when you are around them they are human beings just like me and you.”

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Peter’s journey to Betway SA20 Rookie status highlights the value of Cricket SA's development pipeline with the Eastern Cape-born leggie progressing through all the ranks.

“I started playing cricket at the age of 7-8 years old, just backyard cricket with family and friends,” Peter said.

“But as time went on at school, I think it was at Phys Ed, I just bowled there and the coach wanted me to bowl for the red-ball team. I guess that's how I can say I really started my cricket journey. 

“I then went to Hudson Park High School. Made the Border age group teams and played Coke Week (CSA national u19 provincial week).

“I also played for Fort Hare. It's a Cricket SA-based Academy in Fort Hare and then went on to play for the Eastern Cape Inyathi before moving to the Lions.”

It was at the Lions that Peter’s hard work done behind the scenes at the Royals really paid off.

He may only have played that one single Betway SA20 match, but the benefits of being in a world-class environment shone through in the subsequent Cricket SA20 challenge where Peter was a revelation.

He was sensational in driving the Lions to the championship title, claiming 20 wickets at an average of just 9.50. 

Peter certainly called on the previous Betway SA20 experience of bowling under pressure as he was pivotal in the big moments for the Lions, bagging a career-best 4/18 in the semi-final at the Wanderers.

With South African cricket crying out for an attacking right-arm leg-spinner since Joburg Super Kings Imran Tahir’s international retirement, Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter immediately called Peter up to the national team.

Peter showed his readiness for the big stage by claiming 2/32 on his T20I debut against the West Indies followed up by 1/27 in the next match in Jamaica.

The rollercoaster ride had gone full circle with Peter now playing alongside another Proteas T20I debutant Kruger.

“It's surreal. I wasn't even contracted a year ago, so to be here now I can appreciate the hard work I've done,” Peter said.

“Obviously it shows that if you do work hard, and put your mind to something it does come to fruition.

“I have always been told that if I really focus on my craft, I can do something impactful.”