Counter-attacking Klaasen powers Proteas to win

A brilliant counter-attacking century from the bat of Heinrich Klaasen powered the Proteas to a superb four-wicket win over the West Indies in the third and final ODI at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Tuesday afternoon.

Chasing 261 to win, Klaasen crashed his way to an amazing unbeaten 119 off just 61 deliveries, smashing 14 fours and five sixes, with him rescuing the Proteas from a perilous 87/4 and leading them to a fantastic come-from-behind win with a massive 123 balls to spare.

It wasn’t all Klaasen, however, as he shared in a vital 103-run sixth-wicket partnership with Marco Jansen, 43 off 33 balls (5x4; 2x6), that took them from a dangerous 142/5 to 245/6 with the game effectively over by then.

Klaasen ended the match in style, smashing a six and two fours off the first three balls of Yannic Cariah’s 30th over as they cruised over the line.

Look at what it meant to Heinrich Klaasen, his teammates, and the crowd ??#SAvWI pic.twitter.com/CGoDcbK4kR

— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) March 21, 2023

The result levelled the three match series after the opening match at Buffalo Park in East London was washed out, while the second game at the same ground saw the visitors clinch a 48-run win.

The Proteas' chase got off to a poor start as Ryan Rickelton (3) fended a brilliant short ball from Alzarri Joseph straight to Kyle Mayers at first slip with them on 15/1.

Rassie van der Dussen (14) looked in the mood to attack as he cracked three boundaries in his eight-ball stay, only to go at one ball too many and lobbed an easy catch behind to Mayers off Joseph with them in early strife on 36/2.

Tony de Zorzi (21) and Aiden Markram (25) needed to rebuild the innings, but having shared a stand of 37 for the third wicket, both batters fell soon after each other with De Zorzi out LBW to Akeal Hosein and Markram edging Mayers to keeper Shai Hope.

That brought David Miller (17) in to join Klaasen and they fought back with a 55-run fifth=wicket stand, only for Miller to pop an easy return catch to Hossein as the Proteas slipped to 142/5 in the 19th over.

Jansen then proved to be the perfect partner for Klaasen as he rotated the strike with his senior partner well while also smashing any bad balls he received as they took them to the brink of victory, with Klaasen bringing up a 54-ball century along the way, the third fastest in ODIs for the Proteas.

“We know the quality of player Heinrich is. There were pretty simple guidelines coming into this game.”

Aiden Markram reflects on Klaasen’s whirlwind innings, the approach, and what the gameplan was ??

— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) March 21, 2023

DISASTROUS RUN-OUT

In the first innings a run-a-ball half century from Windies opening batter Brandon King helped his side post an under par but defendable 260 all.

Having won the toss and chosen to field, the Proteas produced a decent all-round bowling performance, but King’s 72 off 72 balls (11x4; 1x6) was backed up by 30s from Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder to make sure that they gave themselves a shot of clinching a series win.

The Windies' innings got off to a strong start as King and Mayers (14) cracked 38 off the first five overs before Mayers pulled a short ball from Jansen over mid-on, only for Lungi Ngidi to run back and take a superb diving catch to reduce the Windies to 39/1 after seven overs.

This brought Brooks (18) in and along with King they set about a positive 71-run second-wicket stand, largely dominated by the in-form opener.

King brought up his half century with a four in the 17th over, followed by the Windies bringing up their hundred in the 19th over.

Disaster struck a few balls later as Brooks set off for a quick single, with King sending him back, as the batter slipped trying to turn and was eventually run out by a mile.

King followed soon after in the 22nd over as he looked unsure how to play at a short ball from Ngidi, hanging his bat out with an inside edge sending the ball onto his stumps, with the score 120/3.

Windies captain Hope (16) and Pooran (39) had to try and rebuild the innings, but guiding them past past the 150 mark, Hope popped an easy catch to a leaping Miller at short mid-wicket off the bowling of Bjorn Fortuin.

Fired up having picked up his first wicket of the day, Fortuin then got one to spin past new man Rovman Powell (2) coming down the wicket at him in his next over, to be easily stumped by keeper Rickelton, leaving the Windies in a bit of trouble on 160/5.

Holder (36) and Pooran tried to get their side to a decent total but having combined for a 27-run sixth-wicket stand, Pooran, who had already cracked three sixes in his innings, threw it away by pulling a short ball from Jansen straight down Ngidi’s throat at deep fine leg.

Cariah (6) then gloved a ball from Gerald Coetzee down the leg side to Rickelton, while the keeper stayed firmly in the game, stumping Holder off the bowling of Markram as the Windies slipped to 221/8.

Lower-order striking from Hosein (14) and Odean Smith (17) helped the Windies get to their final total.

SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Tony De Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Wayne Parnell, Bjorn Fortuin, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi

WEST INDIES: Kyle Mayers, Brandon King, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope (capt, wk), Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Odean Smith, Yannick Cariah, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph