MLC 2023 | Seattle Orcas Triumph as Klaasen Notches Maiden Century Against MI New York
Heinrich Klaasen played an outstanding knock to win the match for the Orcas (Source: Twitter)
The league stages of MLC 2023 are done and dusted and the caravan would move to the Grand Prairie Stadium again for the playoffs. It will be the Seattle Orcas taking on the Texas Super Kings in the Qualifier. Heinrich Klaasen finishes things in style. The game was full of a rollercoaster ride but Heinrich Klaasen, take a bow man. The right-arm South African batter wreaked havoc with bat and notched up the first century of Major League Cricket (MLC), helping his side win this game by 2 wickets and retain the top two spot.
Earlier, after being invited to bat first, MI New York posted a formidable 194/8 in 20 overs. Their innings was anchored by West Indian southpaw Nicholas Pooran, who pummeled Seattle Orcas bowlers all around the park and scored a blistering 68 runs off 34 balls. Skipper Pollard played a short cameo of 34 runs off 18 balls, but it was Boult’s 20 runs off 6 balls in the last over that helped MI cross the 190-run mark. Imad Wasim and Harmeet Singh bagged a couple of wickets for Seattle Orcas, while Gannon and Andrew Tye contributed one wicket.
Klaasen's Batting Brilliance: MLC Witness First Century in Style
.png)
Klaasen's Edged, Mistimed, Middled & Beaten Stats
In pursuit of MI New York’s 194 runs, Seattle Orcas started their innings on a lackluster note as they lost Quinton de Kock and Shehan Jayasuriya for 9 and 0 runs, respectively. Nauman Anwar and Heinrich Klaasen started the rescue work, and the pair didn’t waste any time and unleashed their inner beauty from the word go. Anwar was the primary aggressor among the duo, but soon he was joined by Klaasen, who thwarted bowlers all around the park and changed the equation of the game.
Heinrich Klaasen displayed exceptional form during his innings, facing a total of 44 deliveries. He expertly middled 38 of those, showcasing his impeccable timing and skill. Only once did he face a delivery that beat him, demonstrating his solid technique. Remarkably, there were no edges or balls left alone, illustrating his precise shot selection and commitment at the crease. Although he missed the mark on five occasions, his overall performance was a testament to his batting prowess, and he played a crucial role in securing the victory for his team.
Anwar brought up his half-century but departed just after completing his-half centuries. Klaasen continued his blistering knock and wreaked havoc with the bat as the right-handed batter tore apart Rashid Khan and smashed 26 runs in the spin Wizard’s last over.
Conclusion
In a tense match, the equation came down to 20 runs needed off the last 3 overs. Kiwi left-arm pacer Trent Boult turned the game with a remarkable 18th over, taking three wickets. However, standing at the other end, Klaasen remained composed and achieved his historic century in the penultimate over, becoming the first player to do so in Major League Cricket. He sealed the game with a maximum in the final over, guiding his team to an exhilarating victory.
On the bowling front, it was Trent Boult who emerged as the standout performer for MI, securing an impressive tally of four wickets. His fiery over in the critical stage of the match put his team in a commanding position momentarily. Rashid Khan also played a significant role, contributing two crucial wickets to disrupt the opposition's momentum.
 "Sai")
