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'Mazaa aa gaya. What a player!' - Fans go berserk as Heinrich Klaasen's destructive ton helps South Africa post mammoth 416 against Australia in 4th ODI

Heinrich Klaasen played one of the finest knocks in ODI history to help South Africa post a mammoth score of 416 runs against Australia.

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Rohit Kumar
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Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen (Source: Twitter)

What was that from Heinrich Klaasen and South Africa? An absolute carnage from the Proteas, especially their middle-order batter, who shattered a flurry of records with his dazzling knock against Australia in the fourth ODI at Centurion on Friday, September 15. Klaasen played one of the finest innings in the history of ODI cricket - 174 off just 83 balls, studded with 13 fours and as many sixes. With David Miller also turning on 'Killer Miller' mode, the Australian bowlers crumbled as South Africa cruised to 416-5 in 50 overs.

After being put into bat first at the SuperSport Park, the Proteas openers Reeza Hendricks and Quinton de Kock got off to a solid start with a fifty partnership. South Africa were at 120/3 in 25.1 overs, however, things quickly turned around as Rassie van der Dussen and Klaasen decided to go hard. Van der Dussen notched up a brilliant half-century, but Josh Hazlewood sent him packing for 62 off 65 balls.

Klaasen got off to a slow start, but the in-form batter showed his power-hitting prowess by an incredible knock. The right-hander was batting on 24 off 25 balls, but the next 150 came in just 58 balls! To everyone's surprise, this was his second-fastest ODI ton. The devastating middle-order batter had hit a hundred off just 54 balls earlier this year against West Indies.

Klaasen was well supported by Miller at the other end as the duo registered 22 runs - sixth highest partnership for a 5th wicket or below in ODIs. The southpaw smashed six fours and five sixes to accumulate 82 runs off 45 balls. Both of them did not spare any of the Aussie bowlers, but it was Adam Zampa, who delivered the joint most expensive spell in ODI history (0/113), who felt the real heat of their bat.

Speaking after the first innings, Klaasen said: "It's incredible, I had the shock of the day the other night (dismissed for a duck), but nice to bounce back immediately. Enjoyed putting up that partnership with Miller. We (himself and van der Dussen) needed to allow a few overs, the new grass has meant the ball isn't going quicker and then Rassie said we had to start having a go. No better place to be on a Friday afternoon, my family stays near and I love playing at this venue."

Here's how fans reacted to Heinrich Klaasen's destructive ton against Australia: 

 

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