Explosive Klaasen and SA decimate Aus in penultimate ODI to level the series 2-2

 

Henrich Klaasen played a breathtaking knock of 174 in just 83 balls to dismantle Australia in the all important and must win 4th ODI of the series . His brutal strokeplay left the whole cricket world in awe as South Africa bounced back from a 0-2 deficit to keep the series alive in the last ODI. 

The Proteas batted first with DeKock (45) and Hendricks ( 28) starting well but Markram (8) got out cheaply as South Africa stuttered at 120/3 while the game in balance. 

Enter Henrich Klaasen to join a dangerous looking Rassi Van Der Dussen and they had an exciting partnership of 74 runs in 9 overs before Van Dussen was put for an impressive 62 with 15 overs remaining .

Enter David Miller with Klaasen already showing dangerous signs . What the whole world of viewers of this match saw was an absolute batting carnage as Klaasen launched into brutal strokeplay absolutely obliterating the Aussie bowling attack particularly the highly rated leggie in white ball cricket, Adam Zampa . Whatever Zampa bowled flew into the stands and Klaasen was hitting brutal sixes deep into the crowd . Zampa gave 113 runs in 10 overs !!  Klaasen did not spare any Australian bowler either as he bulldozed into them and destroyed anyone facing him . Miller was not far behind too as he also hit several  explosive shots into the stands but his 82 not out off only 45 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes looked second fiddle in comparison to what Klaasen produced . Player of the match  Klaasen hit  13 fours and 13 breathtaking sixes and finally got out in the last ball of the innings for 174 runs off just 83 balls as Australia reached a mammoth 416/5 in 50 overs to virtually reduce the match into a formality.

400 plus was only once chased down in ODI history and after the Klaasen demolition , the Aussies were too stunned to play properly in their chase . Thus they kept losing regular wickets with Warner , Marsh , Labuschagne, Stoinis all getting out soon after getting starts while Travis Head suffered an injury on his wrist from a Coetzee rising  delivery and had to retire heart for 17  in a big blow to Australia just before the world cup .

Tim David (35) flattered to deceive after a good start .

Only Alex Carey stood firm  amongst the ruins as he played crisp shots in an excellent knock of 99 and was unlucky to miss his 100 as he could not keep down a rising delivery from Rabada and DeKock took an excellent diving  catch which signalled the end of Australia innings at 252 for a huge loss by 164 runs . Ngidi and Rabada shared the spoils for South Africa with 4 and 3 wickets respectively as the hosts level the series 2-2 after being 0-2 in arrears.  The final ODI will be played at Johannesburg on Sunday .