Klaasen, Williamson launch Super Giants to 149/6
Heinrich Klaasen and Kane Williamson showed all their class and experience with a 121-run partnership that lifted Durban Super Giants to 149/6 in their Betway SA20 match against MICape Town at Newlands on Saturday evening. MICape Town needs 150 runs to win.
Klaasen bashed five fours and four sixes for his brilliant 66 off 43. The middle-order batter has endured a tough season. The Proteas star scored more than 10 runs once in five outings. His best was 29 off 17 against the Joburg Super Kings. The 33-year-old went at a rate of a run-a-ball for most of his innings and then upped the ante in the 17th over before he launched three consecutive sixes off Rashid Khan as he cantered to a 36-ball 50. This is his eighth half-century in three seasons.
Williamson, on the other hand, has had a marginally better season. The New Zealander came into the match with a single half-century and a score of 44 under his belt. The 34-year-old faced 43 deliveries to register his second half-ton in the tournament. His unbeaten 56 off 44 steered the visitors to a competitive total.
Unlike MICape Town, who made a solitary change coming into this match, the Super Giants have been trying to give opportunities to different players with the hope that one might excell with the bat. They wheeled out their fourth opening pair, after trying out other combinations.
Quinton de Kock made a career as an opener but opened only once this season. The Super Giants were trying to maintain a left-right combination through their batting line-up. King opened twice and managed 17 runs. His partnership with De Kock only lasted for eight deliveries.
The wicket spurred something within the heart of MICape Town. The fielders were on their toes, intercepting any shots to the boundary. After the powerplay, the visitors had struck four fours and scored at a rate of 3.67.
Rashid Khan announced himself in the bowling attack with a wicket off his first delivery. The MICape Town captain made it two in two when he ensured that Marcus Stoinis did not get going by any measure. The Australian was featuring in his first match for the Super Kings this season. His outing summed up the first half of the visitors' innings, they were dominated by MICape Town.
The Super Giants got their innings on the right track in the 11th over. Kane Williamson and Heinrich Klaasen plundered 14 runs off Corbin Bosch. The over kick-started Klaasen and Williamson's 121-run partnership.
Rashid Khan was MICape Town's most successful bowler with two wickets for 34 runs in four overs. Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult and George Linde finished with a wicket each.
MI CAPE TOWN: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Delano Potgieter, Corbin Bosch, Rashid Khan (capt), Kagiso Rabada, Trent Boult.
DURBAN'S SUPER GIANTS: Matthew Breetzke, Brandon King, Quinton de Kock (wk), Kane Williamson, Wiaan Mulder, Marcus Stoinis, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj (capt), Junior Dala, Prenelan Subrayen, Noor Ahmed.
Advertisement