De Bruyn has played three Test matches for South Africa

Somerset have allowed South African all-rounder Zander De Bruyn to leave them early to play T20 Champions League cricket for his hometown club.

The 35-year-old will represent Highveld Lions in the event which means he misses Somerset's CB40 semi-final and final two County Championship matches.

"The club and the player are between a rock and a hard place," said Somerset's director of cricket Brian Rose.

"It's a tough decision but finally we came down on the side of the player."

Somerset take on Essex in Taunton on Saturday in the CB40 competition with a chance to make the Lord's final the following week.

They are also currently in second place in Division One of the County Championship with fixtures against Lancashire and Durham to come.

Rose added: "The Lions pre-qualified for the Champions League and it's a very special occasion for a player.

"Maybe a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for him and we didn't know if his heart or mind for the last 10 days of the cricket season would be here.

"But I have to say we're going in with confidence as Zander didn't play in the last Championship game.

"And Jos Buttler is on fire at the moment and he'll come back into the team and I know the Somerset supporters love him."

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