Pieter Malan: Batter leaves Middlesex early to rejoin South African side Boland

Pieter Malan has struggled to repeat the fine form he showed for Middlesex at the end of the 2022 season

Pieter Malan has left Middlesex a month earlier than planned to prepare for the South African domestic league.

The 34-year-old batter joined the club midway through last season and helped them secure promotion back to Division One of the County Championship.

He scored two-half centuries and 200 runs in their last five four-day matches, as well as 394 runs including a ton and four fifties in one-dayers.

But he has struggled to repeat that form in eight matches this season.

Malan has scored 221 runs with a highest knock of 66.

"Pieter is a wonderful human being, with an incredible work ethic," Middlesex director of cricket Alan Coleman told the club website.

"You'd struggle to find a player that works harder on his fitness and on continuing to develop his game, however he would be the first to admit that this season has been a struggle for him on the field.

"Pieter leaves Middlesex having made many friends. We wish him every success in the future, and have little doubt that it will only be a matter of time before he is back in the runs for Boland."

Malan will captain Boland in the CSA 4-Day Domestic Series.

Middlesex, who lie eighth in the Division One table, will look for a replacement to help them in their four remaining matches, starting against Essex at Chelmsford on Monday, 4 September.