AB de Villiers signed off the initial phase of his stint with Middlesex via another game-defining knock in the Vitality T20 Blast against Surrey at Lord's on Thursday (August 8). But the former South Africa batsman has promised an earlier return to action in the league towards the second half of the summer. 

De Villiers struck a 40-ball 64 in his team's 64-run victory at home in front of a sell-out crowd for the London derby. 

This was the great man's third half-century in five games, including twin scores of 88 versus Essex and Somerset, respectively. He aggregates 253 runs at an average of 84.33 and a strike-rate of 191.66. 

Middlesex would love to have him back and he will be following a three-week mid-tournament break, says a report in ESPNcricinfo. 

Earlier, De Villiers' agreement with the club included a potential return depending upon the qualification for knock-outs - the quarterfinals on September 4 and 7 before the Finals Day at Edgbaston on September 21.

However, the 35-year-old will be back sooner than that towards the end of August if Middlesex is still in contention for a top-four finish in the South group. He can play the games against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl on August 29 and Somerset at Taunton on August 30.

De Villiers, speaking after his Blast debut at Lord's last month, had said: "I felt comfortable the minute I walked into the dressing room with the boys. They welcomed me with open arms, and that plays a big role in getting players from overseas feeling comfortable."

(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)