Matthew Caleb Kleinveldt (born 10 August 1989) is an English-born South African professional cricketer.[1] Though born and bred in England, Kleinveldt rejected an offer to play for Hampshire due to England's new stern sporting visa requirements. He duly moved back to South Africa to start a cricketing career there. Kleinveldt is also cousin of ex-Protea cricketer Rory Kleinveldt.

Matthew Kleinveldt
Personal information
Full name
Matthew Caleb Kleinveldt
Born (1989-08-10) 10 August 1989 (age 35)
Southampton, Hampshire, England
NicknameKleiney, Matt
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight-arm off break
RoleOpening batsman
RelationsJohnny Kleinveldt (father)
Rory Kleinveldt (cousin)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2009/10–presentWestern Province
2012/13–presentCape Cobras
Career statistics
Competition FC LA T20
Matches 109 57 16
Runs scored 6,239 1,371 180
Batting average 36.06 24.48 13.84
100s/50s 13/31 3/5 0/0
Top score 175 134 34
Balls bowled 5,466 1,515 126
Wickets 101 42 4
Bowling average 30.60 26.30 34.25
5 wickets in innings 0 1 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0
Best bowling 3/6 5/23 1/12
Catches/stumpings 48/– 13/– 4/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo

Domestic career

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Though born in England, Kleinveldt made his professional cricketing debuts all in South Africa. A tall, elegant left-handed batsman, Kleinveldt had a respectable first-class debut scoring 41 in the first innings and 13 in the second, against Eastern Province in 2010. He made his debut for the Cape Cobras in early 2012 scoring 9 runs against the Dolphins before being dismissed.

He then made another debut for the Cape Cobras in 2015 in their Four-day Test against the Dolphins where he scored 99 runs.

He was the leading run-scorer in the 2017–18 Sunfoil 3-Day Cup for Western Province, with 446 runs in nine matches.[2] He was also the leading run-scorer for Western Province in the 2018–19 CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup, with 629 runs in eight matches,[3] and the leading run-scorer for Western Province in the 2018–19 CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge, with 426 runs in ten matches.[4]

In April 2021, he was named in Free State's squad, ahead of the 2021–22 cricket season in South Africa.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Matthew Kleinveldt". Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  2. ^ "Sunfoil 3-Day Cup, 2017/18 Western Province: Batting and bowling averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  3. ^ "CSA 3-Day Provincial Cup, 2018/19 - Western Province: Batting and bowling averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  4. ^ "CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge, 2018/19 - Western Province: Batting and bowling averages". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  5. ^ "CSA reveals Division One squads for 2021/22". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 20 April 2021.