Wayne Parnell is relishing the chance to help Kent Spitfires lift the Twenty20 Cup for a second time in three years.

The 20-year-old South African headed home this week, feeling the effects of a heavy cold, but is ready to make the trip to rejoin his team-mates ahead of finals days at Edgbaston on Saturday week.

Kent’s outgoing director of cricket Graham Ford got the go-ahead from Cricket South Africa and coach Mickey Arthur for Parnell to return for a third time, after helping set up the 56-run quarter-final win over Durham Dynamos at Canterbury last week.

Parnell said: "I am delighted to be coming back again. I will be in South Africa for about 10 days, then fly back again to re-join the lads at Northampton, have a little work-out there and be ready for finals day.

"These are exciting times for Kent and it’s nice to be involved. I enjoy playing Twenty20 cricket but playing Test cricket for South Africa is my aim."

Ford added: "We are delighted to be able to bring Wayne back. He made such a big impact against Durham and I would like to thank Mickey Arthur, and the South African Cricket Board for allowing him to return."