Twitter Reactions: Heinrich Klaasen's maiden ODI ton helps South Africa take a lead in the series

Klaasen smashed 123 off 114 deliveries as South Africa won the 1st ODI by 74 runs.

By Anuraag Peesara

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Heinrich Klaasen
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Heinrich Klaasen. (Photo Source: Twitter)

After a string of disappointing results, South Africa had something to smile about. Powered by a sensational hundred from Heinrich Klaassen, the hosting nation posted a big total batting first and defended it with great authority. Much to the disappointment of the Australians, their middle-order looked way too bleak to make an impact.

South Africa won the toss earlier and chose to bat first. Janemann Malan, the young sensation who finally made his debut for the national side, couldn’t have asked for the worst start to his career. Mitchell Starc cleaned up his stumps off the first ball of the innings and not long after that, their in-form skipper Quinton de Kock walked back too.

Kyle Verreynne made an impression on his debut, stitching a crucial partnership with Heinrich Klaasen. The duo added 78 runs for the fourth wicket, which saw Klaasen taking on the fast bowlers with great ease. Verreynne beautifully kept guiding the balls for singles and doubles but fell two short of a richly deserved half-century. After his dismissal, it was time for a change in gear as David Miller joined Klaasen.

They took the bowlers to the cleaners and got completely on top of the visitors. David Miller and Klaasen targetted Hazlewood and churned some important runs. In the 47th over, Klaasen completed a magnificent hundred, shortly after Miller got to his half-century. Their partnership accounted for a whopping 149 runs and put South Africa in the driver’s seat. They ended up scoring 291 runs for the loss of seven wickets.

Klaasen remained unbeaten on 123 off 114 balls whilst Miller was dismissed for a well compiled 64 off 70 cherries. Cummins was the pick of the Aussie bowlers who returned with the figures of 3/45.

Smith and Labuschagne threaten but Proteas prevail in the test of nerves

Aaron Finch got going with a couple of boundaries but Lungi Ngidi got the better of him in the 5th over. It seemed like David Warner was lining up for something big, but he too was a victim of Ngidi’s brilliance. The hosts picked up two big wickets in quick succession, which brought Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith together in the middle.

The duo once again batted effortlessly and piled on the agony. Steve Smith has been batting really well against the white ball and once again registered a half-century. Just when Labuschagne was closing in on his fifty, Keshav Maharaj dismissed the youngster and that ended a brilliant 84-run stand. Mitchell Marsh and Smith put on Australia’s last fight of the day, which barely lasted 7 overs.

Smith completed his fifty but a short while later, both him and Marsh were dismissed in a span of 4 deliveries. It was one-way traffic then as South Africa bowled their opposition out for 217 runs in 45.1 overs. Ngidi returned with figures of 3/30, but Klaasen was eventually named player of the match for his outrageous contribution with the bat.

Here’s what the Twitterati had to say about this game.

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