SOUTH African Grant Roelofsen is setting his sights high with Billericay Cricket Club this season.

The top order batsman smashed an impressive 177 in Billericay’s Dukes Essex League Cup win against Hadleigh & Thundersley on Saturday.

And he now also wants to make a big impact in Billericay’s Division One campaign which gets underway at home to Harold Wood this weekend.

“I want to win the league and try to get some silverware,” said Roelofsen.

“That would be good for the club and individually I want to do the best I can to help the team win those trophies.”

Billericay were relegated from the Premier Division last season but are keen to bounce back at the first attempt.

And Roelofsen jumped at the chance to join them for the campaign.

“As professional cricketers abroad you get offers to play club cricket in the UK during our winter months,” explained the 25-year-old.

“I thought instead of staying in South Africa training I thought it would be good to come over and play for four months.

“I’ve never played down south before either.

“I’d only ever played in the north and around Nottingham so it was nice to get an offer from a club down south so I could come and see a bit more of the country.”

Roelofsen is determined to make the most of the opportunity and has already been impressed by his new surroundings.

“It’s a beautiful club and a lovely area,” said Roelofsen.

“The people are all super friendly and they’ve really gone out of their way to make me feel at home which is awesome.

“The facilities are awesome too so I’m happy to be here.

“Last weekend we had a cup game and we won which was beautiful and it was a good start for us.

“We want to carry that on now.”

Roelofsen arrives at Billericay having already built himself a big reputation in the game.

His fine form saw him named one day player of the year at Cricket South Africa’s annual awards ceremony in July 2020 and last year he was named in the South Africa emerging men’s squad for their six-match tour of Namibia.

But he is now firmly focused on doing well for Billericay.

“I’m really looking forward to all the matches we have coming up,” he added.

Elsewhere this weekend, Hadleigh & Thundersley host Hornchurch in the Premier Division while Wickford head to Buckhurst Hill in Division One.

In Division Two, Benfleet host Old Southendian & Southchurch, Westcliff are at Harlow Town and Leigh head to Old Parkonians.

In Division Three, Southend & EMT are at Frenford.