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Stroke-making wasn't an easy task at Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) homeground. The run chase turned tricky for SRH as they lost Abhishek Sharma's wicket in the eighth over. Ishan Kishan was in the middle but he was not at his attacking best. Heinrich Klaasen arrived at the crease when spinners Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad were operating. He tried to take his time but soon realised that he needs to be attacking and then flicked a switch. Klaasen's attacking display in middle overs turned the tide for SRH as they went on to chase down 181 with an over to spare.
“It was a difficult chase coming in, chasing a score like that on this wicket is always a tough task. [I’m] happy for the team. It's a brilliant performance. And one more game, group stage game to go,” Klaasen told the broadcasters after SRH’s eighth win to cement a playoffs berth.
“The first couple of balls I blocked and I said, no, I can't play cricket like this. I need to be aggressive on this wicket and it made my way tonight. So yeah, I'm happy with the way I'm striking the ball. Hopefully it continues for the rest of the competition.”
Klaasen went on to score 47 runs from 26 deliveries, featuring six fours and a couple of sixes. He shared a 75-run partnership for the third wicket with Kishan. His stay at the crease ended in the 15th over as Sanju Samson pulled off an impressive stumping.
Klaasen on partnership with Kishan
Klaasen was asked about Kishan playing second fiddle to him. The former Proteas wicketkeeper-batter said that the whole season has been like that as one batter has decided to put his ego side when the other has got going.
“I think the whole season has been like that. The moment one of our batters are running with it, the other guy's putting his ego aside and just making sure that the scoreboard is still ticking from his side and he will take other with that momentum that comes his way. So we've been incredible with the bat this season and hopefully it continues,” said the 34-year-old.
Klaasen reclaims orange cap
While Klaasen missed his sixth half-century of the season, he surpassed Gujarat Titans' (GT) Sai Sudharsan by just one run to reclaim the orange cap. From 12 games, he has scored 555 runs at an average of 50.45 and strike rate of 155.89. He is the only batter among top 15 run-scorer this season who is a middle-order batter.
With the win in Chepauk, SRH are placed third on the points table. They have a chance to finish in top two. Their last league stage match is against table-toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 22 at home.
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