Heinrich Klaasen blitzed a remarkable 85 off 35 balls, including four fours and eight sixes, to enable Durban’s Super Giants to claim the tightest of victories by 11 runs via the DLS method over MI Cape Town in their Betway SA20 clash at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday night.
After the washout in Gqeberha on Wednesday between the Sunrisers Eastern Cape and the Joburg Super Kings, it was the game that was needed to kickstart the competition although it was a pity that rain had the final say.
It seemed that the visitors would cruise to victory after Ryan Rickelton had struck 87 in 51 balls to power them to an intimidating 207 for five in their innings after they had lost the toss and been put in to bat.
In reply the Giants lost two early wickets for 12 runs, including that of the iconic Quinton de Kock for five, suggesting that the home team needed something very special to get back into the game.
Player-of-the-match Klaasen provided that and more besides.
Strong start for our #DSGvMICT player of the match, Heinrich Klaasen. 🏏#WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/pyHyzVKXaH
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 11, 2024
Coming in at 52 for three after the fall of Keemo Paul’s wicket, Klaasen quickly got his bearings before launching an astonishing attack on the Cape franchise’s bowlers, particularly their spinners.
The partnerships he was involved in gradually upped the ante, as he added 47 in 26 balls with Matthew Breetzke and then 41 in 20 balls with Nicholas Pooran.
But the heavy weight of responsibility lay principally on Klaasen’s shoulders and he responded magnificently as his whiplash arms kept swinging the ball into the stands.
What a knock! #DSGvMICT #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/9dKVOQDkRT
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 11, 2024
Eventually, however, he perished, caught at long-off a canny slower ball from Kagiso Rabada and, with their total on 177 for six needing another 31 off 21 balls for victory, the game seemed evenly poised.
Then Mother Nature took a hand. It has rained plentifully in Durban over the last week and finally the elements – which had occasionally threatened during the game – spoiled the tightest of finishes leaving the Super Giants just ahead of the run rate.
ROARING RICKELTON
Earlier, Rickelton plundered 87 in just 51 balls to lead MI Cape Town to a formidable 207 for five.
The visitors’ final total was 62 beyond the average total for a team batting first at Kingsmead in the competition, underlining just how difficult a task the Super Giants faced.
And there was potentially worse news for the home team as their captain Keshav Maharaj was forced to limp off the field with a leg injury at the end of the MICT innings although it appeared that he was ready to bat, if required, as the Super Giants tried to chase down the Cape franchise’s total.
It was Maharaj who put the opposition in to bat after winning the toss, and Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen ensured that there was no profit in that decision, adding 82 in 48 balls in an electrifying opening stand that was largely fuelled by the left-handed Rickelton who cracked six fours and six sixes with some wonderfully clean hitting.
An incredible first outing for @MICapeTown's Ryan Rickelton. #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/JT33E0XkOR
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 11, 2024
There was a brief slowing of momentum when Van der Dussen (24) and Dewald Brevis (5) went in quick succession – the latter being superbly caught at long-on by Matthew Breetzke – but Connor Esterhuizen and Liam Livingstone restored the dominance of the bat before skipper Kieron Pollard finished the innings off handsomely with some powerful strokes as he hammered an unbeaten 31 in just 16 balls.
It was the MI Cape Town’s highest total in the competition to date after a disappointing first season in which they finished last.
The Super Giants’ bowlers were shoddy in their execution, offering far too may boundary balls as well as free hits for the batsmen with no-balls.
Only medium-pacer Paul (2-31 in four overs) would have been satisfied with his night’s work.
DURBAN’S SUPER GIANTS: Keshav Maharaj (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Nicholas Pooran, Matthew Breetzke, Heinrich Klaasen, Wiaan Mulder, Dwaine Pretorius, Keemo Paul, Prenelan Subrayen, Richard Gleeson, Reece Topley
MI CAPE TOWN: Kieron Pollard (capt), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Dewald Brevis, Rassie van der Dussen, Connor Esterhuizen, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Thomas Kaber, Kagiso Rabada, Beuran Hendricks, Olly Stone