Heinrich Klaasen, the Test batter, and Heinrich Klaasen, the ODI batter, are worlds apart. Based on the evidence of the two recent Tests against the West Indies, the former is unsure how to pace his innings; the latter plays with clarity and a befuddling arrogance.
He didn’t exactly start from scratch in Potchefstroom on Tuesday. South Africa was 87/4 in the 13th over as Tony de Zorzi was caught lbw in a scuffle with Akeal Hosein.
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The scoring rate of 7.25 was adequate, but the loss of four wickets so early in the run chase was an issue because, despite their batsmanship, Marco Jansen and Wayne Parnell have yet to prove reliable.
It was all on Klaasen and David Miller, who joined Klaasen when De Zorzi’s wicket fell. It is the usual operating procedure to “bat time” or “take the game deep” in such situations. Protocol be damned, thought Klaasen.
A brilliant unbeaten 119 off 61 balls by Heinrich Klaasen secures a 4-wicket win with 20.3 overs to spare for the Proteas.
The series is shared at 1-1.#SAvWI scorecard 👇
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Miller had already hit three fours by the time he arrived, so he simply continued in that manner; if the ball was pitched high, it was driven, if it was short, it was pulled.
Klaasen’s movement at the crease was so accurate that he was able to disturb the West Indies bowlers’ length by moving his weight back rapidly and still finding plenty of open space on the leg-side.
The Proteas’ triumph, which did not appear likely when Miller joined Klaassen, was eventually secured with ease, as they completed the target with 123 balls to spare, with Klaasen hitting a six and Yannic Cariah hitting consecutive fours.
The pace was astonishing – between the 15th and 25th overs, the Proteas scored 105 runs for Miller’s wicket. If this is a glimpse at the new, upbeat brand, there’s a lot to appreciate.
Klaasen’s century came in 54 balls, making him the fourth-fastest ODI century by a South African hitter. He finished with 119 runs off 61 balls, striking 15 fours and five sixes.
Following a 55-run partnership with Miller, who only scored 17, there was a critical sixth-wicket stand with the aforementioned Jansen, in which the 22-year-old demonstrated the type of performance the Proteas want him to deliver on a regular basis with the bat.
Jansen was out there hitting reverse sweeps off-spinners, driving over the leg side, and pulling off seamers to knock 43 off 33 balls, and he and Klaasen put on a 103-run partnership in just 10 overs.
The remainder of the batters will remain a source of concern for new head coach Rob Walter.
It remains to be seen how much he learned about the youths chosen for this series, but Walter will know that two matches for De Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton are insufficient to adequately appraise them.
The Proteas were excellent with the ball, notably Aiden Markram, who filled in as captain for Temba Bavuma, who was diagnosed with a hamstring injury.
Markram entered the fray in the 26th over, with the West Indies at 150/3 and looking on pace for a total in excess of 300.
They were unable to score against Markram’s part-time off-spin, and the pressure he caused resulted in Bjorn Fortuin taking the wickets of Shai Hope and Rovman Powell.
The West Indies dropped wickets regularly after that, with Markram finishing with 1/30 in 10 overs and delivering 34 dot balls.
The West Indies’ top scorer was opener Brandon King, who made a run-a-ball 72, while the rest of the batsmen were ineffective.
Klaasen ultimately decided the game with one of the best counterattacking innings by a Proteas batsman.
The series is currently tied at 1-1, with South African attention now focused on the two matches against the Netherlands, where qualification for the 2023 World Cup will be at stake.
