SA vs WI, ODI: Heinrich Klaasen’s 119 (61) leads SA’s 4 wicket win in 29.3 overs

SA vs WI, 3rd ODI: South Africa 264 for 6 (Klaasen 119*, Joseph 3-50) beat West Indies 260 for 9 (King 72, Fortuin 2-46) by four wickets

In a non-Super League match, South Africa defeated West Indies to level the series thanks to Heinrich Klaasen’s second century in one-day internationals. On a fairly level surface in Potchefstroom, South Africa were 87 for 4 and chasing 261 when Klaasen shared a half-century with David Miller and a 103-run partnership with Marco Jansen. He then scored the fourth-fastest century by a South African to defeat the target.

The outcome prevented the West Indies from winning their first series against a team ranked in the top eight and their third away bilateral series since 2011. They have likewise always lost a two-sided ODI series in South Africa and last guaranteed a fifty-over prize here a long time back, when they were fruitful in a three-sided series which further elaborated Pakistan.

Upon reflection, West Indies will examine their middle order’s performance, which squandered a strong start by losing 6 for 96 between overs 19 and 40 after being 110 for 1. They did not bat out their overs, but they did score 50 runs off the last 50 balls they faced, giving the attack something to defend. Their bowlers made a strong start against a South African lineup without Quinton de Kock (rested) and Temba Bavuma (injured), but Klaasen’s clean hitting made it impossible for South Africa to win with more than 20 overs left.

After Alzarri Joseph’s vicious opening period and the departure of stand-in captain Aiden Markram, Klaasen was called upon with a task to complete. Joseph dispatched a ferocious short-ball barrage to eliminate Ryan Rickelton, the impromptu opener, who held off No. 3 Rassie van der Dussen, who was hurriedly placed in the pull shot. In the 11th over, Klaasen came into play after Markram edged a Mayers leg cutter to Shai Hope, ending the powerplay. Nine balls later, the West Indies successfully reviewed an Akeal Hosein lbw appeal against Tony de Zorzi, whose ball-tracking indicated that he would hit the middle stump. At 87 for 4, South Africa was in trouble.

When Klaasen hung back in his crease to dispatch Hosein for two fours in the over, something that would become a regular part of his innings, the tension was relieved. He launched Odean Smith over deep midwicket for the first of his five sixes after pulling Joseph for consecutive fours to end the threat posed by the spearhead of the West Indies. David Miller was mostly watching, but he sent fuller balls from Hosein and Smith for six before giving Hosein a straightforward catch on the return.

South Africa could have collapsed with a slightly shorter batting lineup than usual, but Marco Jansen performed admirably on his home ground. He scored six runs off the initial nine balls he looked before he drew out the opposite clear against leg spinner Yannic Cariah and did it two times in three balls. Jansen liked Cariah and scored 14 runs, including a six over midwicket, in his next over.

South Africa needed only 55 more runs at the halfway point of their innings, and they were scoring at more than eight runs per over

Klaasen was in his eighties when Jason Holder took over, elevating him to 99. He scored his hundred against Joseph with a single off the 54th ball he faced. Jansen was close to scoring a fifty for the first time in an ODI, but in his haste to do so, he sent a Joseph ball to Shamarh Brooks at the back of the pavilion, leaving Wayne Parnell to finish the job.

Before that, West Indies’ innings got off to a good start when Mayers took advantage of Lungi Ngidi’s width and scored 39 runs in the first seven overs. However, Mayers had already been kicked out when he pulled Jansen off the rope with Ngidi at midfield backpedaling to take a diving catch.

With a slash off 60 balls, Brandon King reached his fourth ODI half-century and continued his strong batsmanship. When Brooks called for a run, King did not respond, and Brook slipped as he returned to his crease, the second-wicket stand between King and Shamarh Brooks was beginning to look promising. He was run out for 18 and the two of them parted ways at 71. It turned out to be the West Indian innings’ highest.

After the run-out, Ngidi was brought back, and King seemed pleased to see him. To enter the 1970s, he whipped a half-volley through the covers, but Ngidi won out. King attempted to play a short ball while on his toes in his next over, but he chipped it into his stumps.

Nicholas Pooran penalized Coetzee and Ngidi for short balls and slog-swept Fortuin over long-on to reduce West Indies to 148 for 3 at the halfway point, with 300 still in their sights. After Markram brought himself in to hold an end and gave the most economical performance of his career, they came to a disappointing end. Jason Holder was stumped and beaten by turn in his ten overs, and he took his wicket for just 30 runs. 

Hope had attempted to whip Bjorn Fortuin over short midwicket at that point, but he was caught by David Miller. Rovman Powell had been stumped and beaten in flight, Nicholas Pooran had been bounced out, and Carirah had been strangled down the leg side. West Indies would have felt they were below par and later realized how far behind the pace they were despite Smith’s run-a-ball 17 providing some late fireworks.