South Africa, playing on their own home ground, leveled the 5-match ODI series against Australia 2-2 with one match to go. Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first, setting a gigantic target of 417 runs. With the help of Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa posted the highest total of 416 in the history of ODI cricket at Centurion in a must-win contest, losing 5 wickets in 50 overs. This was also the 5th highest total for South Africa in ODI cricket. South Africa now has 7 400-plus totals in ODI cricket, the most for any team, surpassing India’s six. Heinrich Klaasen broke multiple records.
Captain and opener of South Africa, Temba Bavuma, who skipped this match due to a right adductor strain, was replaced by Reeza Hendricks, and Aiden Markram led the side in his absence. Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks had a 50+ opening stand. Nathan Ellis dismissed Hendricks after a 64-run partnership. Josh Hazelwood got de Kock out at 45. A few overs later, stand-in captain Markram fell at 8. Proteas were 120-3, and Australia struggled from there.
Rassie van der Dussen played an innings of 62 runs off 65 balls, but all the spotlight today was on one man, HEINRICH KLAASEN. The 32-year-old probably played the innings of his life. Heinrich Klaasen made an enormous 174 runs off 83 balls with the help of 13 fours and 13 sixes at a strike rate of 209.64. He recorded his 3rd ODI century in just 57 balls. Also, this was the second-fastest ODI century against Australia.
Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller’s Monumental 222-Run Partnership
David Miller played the role of the second fiddle but was very threatening throughout his innings. Miller scored an unbeaten 82 runs off 45 balls, which included 6 fours and 5 sixes, with a strike rate of 182.22. Heinrich Klaasen was 25 off 26 balls at the end of the 32nd over, with South Africa at 157 for 3. However, Klaasen and Miller increased the pace of the innings and scored 259 runs in the last 18 overs as Australian bowlers were taken to the cleaners.
Heinrich Klaasen’s 174 is the 8th highest score by a South African in men’s ODIs. His 13 sixes are the second-most by a South African in ODIs, only behind AB de Villiers’ 16 in 2015. Heinrich Klaasen’s 174 is also the second-highest score by a batter at No. 5 or lower in ODIs, behind Kapil Dev’s 175 in 1983.
The 222-run partnership between David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen saw a run rate of 14.47, which is by far the highest for a stand of 200-plus in ODI cricket. The previous fastest was between Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler, who added 204 runs at 10.03 runs an over against West Indies in 2019. Moreover, South Africa scored 173 in the last ten overs of their innings. This is the highest by any team between the 41st and 50th overs of a men’s ODI innings.
The partnership of 222 between Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller is also the first double-century stand in ODIs against Australia for the fifth wicket or lower. It is also the fifth-highest partnership for the fifth wicket in ODIs overall and the second-highest for South Africa, behind 256* by JP Duminy and Miller against Zimbabwe in 2015.
South Africa hit 20 sixes in their innings, marking a new record for the highest number of sixes in an ODI for the South African team. This equals their previous record of 20 sixes against India in the 2015 Mumbai ODI. Additionally, this is the second-highest number of sixes Australia has ever conceded in an ODI, with the highest being 21 against England in the 2018 Nottingham ODI.
Australia’s Rough Day At The Office
Moreover, Australian leg spinner Adam Zampa had a challenging day. Zampa conceded 113 runs in his ten overs, the most by any bowler in an innings in men’s ODIs. Zampa equaled the record set by Mick Lewis, who achieved the same feat against South Africa in a Johannesburg ODI in 2006. Overall, his figures against the Proteas were 10-0-113-0.
In response, Australia struggled in their chase. David Warner scored 12, Mitchell Marsh 6, and Travis Head retired hurt at 53-3. Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Stoinis fell for 20 and 18. Alex Carey and Tim David had a 72-run partnership, but Lungi Ngidi broke it. Carey fought well, scoring 99 off 77, falling one run short of his century. Australia was bundled out for 252 by Proteas.
South Africa, who were trailing Australia 2-0 in the series, made a comeback by winning back-to-back ODIs, both with margins of 111 and 164 runs. The last match of the series will take place on the 17th of September at Johannesburg.