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Heinrich Klaasen went on a rampage at SuperSport Park, Centurion in the fourth ODI of the series against Australia. Klaasen fell short of breaking Quinton de Kock’s record for highest individual score for South Africa against Australia. The brute hitter smashed 13 sixes and as many fours in his 174-run knock from 83 balls. This is the second-most sixes a South African batter has hit in an innings.
Also, Klaasen’s 174 is the highest score by a no.5 batter in ODI cricket. The previous best belonged to USA's Jaskaran Malhotra who scored an unbeaten 173 against Papua New Guinea in 2021.
Klaasen walked in to bat in the 26th over of the innings. He accelerated in the middle overs. In the 34th over, he targetted Adam Zampa and hit him for a four and a six. In the 37th over, he reached his half-century from 38 balls with a six off Josh Hazlewood.
David Miller played second fiddle to Klaasen in the fifth-wicket partnership. In the 42nd over, Marcus Stoinis erred and bowled a no-ball. Klaasen hit three sixes in the over to reach his century from 57 deliveries. In the next over, Zampa conceded 18 runs. He shares the record with Mick Lewis who conceded 113 runs from 10 overs against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2006.
Klaasen did not slow down and continued to flash his blade at every delivery pitched anywhere near his zone. Klaasen went on a six-hitting spree. Mitchell Marsh took the gamble of giving the ball to Zampa again. The plan backfired as Klaasen hit him for three humongous sixes in the 26-run over. He reached his 150 from just 77 balls. From his full quota of 10 overs, he conceded 113 runs, joint-most by a bowler in ODI cricket history.
In the final over, Klaasen got the strike on the third ball against Stoinis. He hit a six followed by two fours. He needed a six to get past De Kock's score but got caught by Nathan Ellis on the final ball of the innings.
He shared a 222-run partnership for the fifth wicket with David Miller who remained unbeaten for 82 runs from 45 balls. The explosive partnership helped South Africa post a huge total of 416/5 on the board. It also helped South Africa achieve the record for most 400-plus scores in ODIs.
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