McKenzie hoping for Durham runs

Apr 6 2008 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

SOUTH AFRICA batsman Neil McKenzie is determined to carry his scintillating Test form to Durham’s Riverside this summer.

The former Somerset player continued his amazing comeback to international cricket with 94 and an unbeaten 155 in the drawn first Test against India at Chennai last week.

Recalled against Bangladesh last month after four years out, McKenzie promptly struck scored a career best 226 in a record-breaking 415-run opening partnership with Graeme Smith.

And that bodes well for Durham, who signed the 32-year-old for a six-week spell after the conclusion of the South African domestic season on April 26.

“I will only be with them for a couple of months but I want to make as a big a contribution as possible to help Durham win trophies,” McKenzie told the Sunday Sun. “I have played with (Durham captain) Dale Benkenstein and I played against Steve Harmison last year.

“Steve came across to my South African franchise team, the Bizhub Highveld Lions, for two weeks so it will be fantastic to be on the same team this year.

“I turned a bit of a corner after coming off a Test double hundred against Bangladesh and want to keep improving and cash in with big runs for Durham.”

Veteran Australian batsman Michael Di Venuto is also returning to Durham as a Kolpak player this year.

Di Venuto topped Durham’s batting averages with 1329 championship runs at 66.45 last season and is ready to plunder yet more runs this time around.

“We won two trophies and a had a great season last year but we’ve got the ability to win the County Championship this time,” said Di Venuto.