South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen smashed the fourth quickest ODI 150. South Africa posted a mammoth 416/5 against Australia which was the seventh 400 plus score in ODIs. The hosts won the match by a huge 164-run margin to level the series 2-2.
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The South Africans batted aggressively in the final 20 overs, scoring 268 runs, with 173 coming in the last 10 overs. Klaasen was the star of the show, amassing 174 runs off a mere 83 balls, reaching his century in just 57 deliveries. He reached the 150-run mark in a rapid 77 balls, comprising 13 fours and an equal number of sixes.
Klaasen received solid support from David Miller, who contributed an explosive 82 runs off 45 balls. Their partnership, worth a record-breaking 222 runs off only 92 balls, was finally separated by Marcus Stoinis on the last ball, as Klaasen was dismissed. Notably, no other double-century partnership in ODI history has achieved a better run rate than the 14.47 runs per over achieved by Miller and Klaasen during this match.
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Klaasen’s innings is the eighth-highest score by a South African batter in men’s ODIs. His 57-ball century is also the second-fastest against Australia, behind only Virat Kohli’s 52-ball century in Jaipur in 2013. Also, the South African batter’s score of 174 is the second-highest by someone batting at number 5 or lower in ODIs. Kapil Dev’s 175 not out against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup still holds the record.
Earlier, South Africa found themselves at 194/4 in 34.1 overs before Klaasen and Miller formed their destructive partnership. Aussie leg-spinner Adam Zampa was picked apart, conceding 113 runs in his ten overs.
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This equals the record for the most runs conceded by a bowler in men’s ODIs. The record was previously held by Mick Lewis of Australia against South Africa in 2006 when South Africa successfully chased down a target of 435.
Australia were no match for the mammoth target and were bundled out for 252 in 34.5 overs. Their attempts to keep up with the required run rate contributed to the fall of wickets. Alex Carey (99) missed out on a century by just one run while Tim David, with 35, was the second highest scorer for the team.
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Lungi Ngidi (4/51) and Kagiso Rabada (3/41) were the pick of the South African bowlers. The result also saw the Proteas level the five match ODI series 2-2.
