SA v WI, 3rd ODIHeinrich Klaasen's 54-ball hundred helps South Africa level series vs West Indies in Potchefstroom

By India Today Sports DeskHeinrich Klaasen marshaled a stunning chase for South Africa against the West Indies in the 3rd and final ODI of a 3-match series at the Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Tuesday, March 21. Klaasen hit the fourth fastest hundred by a South Africa batter in men’s ODIs as he helped the Proteas recover from 87 for 4 in the 13th over to gun down 261 in the 30th over.

Heinrich Klaasen smashed 119 from just 61 balls after getting past his 3-figure score in just 54 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter hit 5 sixes and 15 boundaries in a stunning knock that helped South Africa out of a crisis situation.

Incidentally, it was Heinrich Klaasen’s second ODI hundred and he could not have brought it up at a better situation as South Africa, at 87 for 4, were in a spot of bother and staring at a rare series defeat at home.

SA v WI, 3rD ODI Highlights

After the first ODI was washed out, West Indies had beaten South Africa in the 2nd ODI by 48 runs despite a Temba Bavuma 144 in East London on March 18.

Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller steadied the ship with a 55-run stand but Akeal Hosein got the wicket of Miller for 17 in the 19th over.

However, when Marco Jansen joined hands with Klaasen, there was carnage. In one of the finest counter-attacking knocks , Klaasen and Jansen added 103 runs together in just 60 balls to snatch the match away from West Indies.

FASTEST ODI HUNDREDS FOR SOUTH AFRICA

1. 31 – AB de Villiers vs West Indies in 2015
2. 44- Mark Boucher vs Zimbabwe in 2006
3. 52 – AB de Villiers vs West Indies in 2015
4. 54 – Heinrich Klaasen in 2023*
5. 57 – AB de Villiers vs India in 2015

Despite not having captain Temba Bavuma who was rested after a hamstring injury scare, South Africa managed to pull off a series-leveing win under Aiden Markram, who chipped in with a crucial 25.

Alzarri Joeseph’s big-hearted effort (figures of 3 for 50) went in vain as West Indies let slip away a good opportunity to go for the series victory. With his raw pace, Joseph set the tone for West Indies by bouncing out Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen but Klaasen’s knock changed the game for the Proteas.

Earlier in the day, South Africa came up with a colletive bowling effort to restrict West Indies to 260 in 48.2 overs. Marco Jansen, Fortuin and Gerald Coetzee picked up 2 wickets each.

Brandon King top-scored for the West Indies with 72 but the other batters were not able to convert their starts into big knocks.

The two teams will play a 3-match T20I series from Saturday, March 25.