It was the Australia Tour of South Africa in 2005-06 when history was created at the Johannesburg Cricket Stadium. 434 runs in a 50-over match, were chased down by a top-seeded South African cricket XI with 1 ball to spare. Maybe the stadium and the opposition have changed, but the South African team still stands tall as they chased down a mammoth 260 in just 29.3 overs, credit to the big man Klassen’s Hundred.

Klassen front strike — Klassen steps down to hit Alzari Joseph for a Boundary
Image Source: Cricbuzz

New Chase Record made as South Africa level series 1-1

The 3^rd ODI between South Africa and West Indies was a decider game in the Tournament after the 1^st ODI was washed out by rain and West Indies won the Second ODI easily by 48 runs. Where West Indies aimed to have the series in their favor, the only possibility for South Africa was to level the series 1-1.

The Windies started well at the Senews park, Potchefstroom as Brandon King pulled some exceptional strokes to score 72 runs off 72 deliveries. Though he couldn’t get much support from the Middle Order, Nicholas Pooran put up some good 39 runs on the board before they were bowled out for 260 in 48.2 overs, owing to some exceptional bowling from Marco Jansen, Fortuin, and Coetzee.

Alzari Joseph Strikes — Alzari Joseph strikes early as South Africa gets down to 87/4
Image Source: News 18

Alzarri Joseph’s twin strikes early on shook South Africa in their chase of a below-par mark on a fine batting surface, but the hosts continued to play their chances, so the needed run rate was never an issue. The West Indies received a huge morale boost as the score read 87/4 in the 13th over, but wickets quickly became an issue.

But that joy didn’t last long, as Klaasen immediately attacked the bowling with a barrage of boundaries. Everyone, even the in-form Joseph, took the heaviest blows, and the pacemaker even got into a verbal altercation with Klaasen. Given the scale of the destruction, West Indies hardly benefited in any way by getting rid of David Miller on the cheap.
With his lighthearted cameo, all-rounder Marco Jansen joined in the fun, and their partnership with Klaasen produced Hundred and three runs off just 60 deliveries. In an inning that didn’t quite last 30 overs, there were 30 boundaries and 10 sixes, making it a display of boundary-hitting. Yannic Cariah and Odean Smith took the heaviest hit, producing costly results, respectively.

South Africa’s run rate of 8.95 today, was their personal best against any other team in a successful run chase of over 200 runs. 264 runs off 29.3 overs, led South Africa to a comfortable Victory, while they leveled the series 1-1.

Explosive Klassen smashes a well-deserved Hundred

When you come down to bat and see the scoreboard ticking at 87/4, with a 260 target on board, the first thought to any batsmen would be to play defensive and build partnerships. Tho the latter was very clear to Heinrich, as he built a 55 runs partnership with David Miller, his intent was visible from ball 1. Be it smashing 3 fours to Odean Smith in his very first over or three back-to-back boundaries against in-form Alzarri Joseph, Klassen’s made it all seem to be so easy.

Heinrich Klassen 54 ball Century — Heinrich Klassen Celebrates his 54 ball Century
Image Source: ESPN Cricinfo

The spinners weren’t left on ease too. A 102 meter out of the park six to Akeal Hosein was just a trailer to this breathtaking knock. After losing Miller, it seemed as if both sides looked equally aggressive. While Klassen was busy hitting Akeal for mammoth sixes one after another, Marco Jansen hit Odean smith with 15 runs in a single over. A Hundred off just 54 deliveries are something that the Protea fans would remember for eternity. With his second ODI Century, Klassen was named the Man of the Match as well as the sharing Man of the Tournament along with Windies Skipper Shai Hope.

Cricketing action around the Globe

The cricketing extravaganza around the Globe has been exhilarating for spectators all around the World. With Australia and India heading for a decider 3^rd ODI at the Chepauk, Chennai, both the teams would be looking forward to a series victory before the IPL starts next month. With India sticking the 3 spinners squad and giving one after another chance to Suryakumar Yadav who has earned himself a Golden Duck in the previous ODI matches of the Series, Australia would be hoping for some more Starc Tornado with Mitchell Marsh in great form.

Cricketers around the Globe — Image Source: The Indian Express

Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals book themselves the Finals berth in the Tata Women’s Premier League, 2024 as Mumbai Indians and UP Warriorz face each other in the Eliminator on March 24^th at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, both aiming for the place in the Finals.
After the First Match was washed out due to rain, Bangladesh would look forward to cleaning sweep the hosts Ireland in the 3-match ODI series. Both New Zealand and Sri Lanka as well as South Africa and West indies brace themselves for the 3-match T20 Bilateral series.

As IPL starts on 30^th March, all the players would be flying to their respective Team venues in India as the 2-month jam-packed season awaits the audience.
MATCHES TO LOOK FOR: 3^rd ODI Australia vs India
WHEN AND WHERE: 22^nd March, 1:30 PM IST, M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai