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SOMETIMES THE SPINNERS ARE SCARED TO BOWL TO ME, SAYS DSG'S KLAASEN
It is an open secret that Durban’s Super Giants superstar Heinrich Klaasen enjoys smashing spin bowlers to all parts.
And all the teams leading into Betway SA20 Season 2 would have done all their research and analysis of data they could lay their hands on in a bid to keep Klaasen in check.
But deep in their hearts they must know that when they confront a powerful force of nature like Klaasen all plans are rendered meaningless.
This much was evident again at Kingsmead on Thursday evening when Klaasen toyed with MI Cape Town as DSG won their Season 2 opener by 11 runs on the DLS method.
Klaasen scored, nay blasted, smashed and boomed an innings of 85 off 35 balls with four boundaries and eight maximums.
He only faced 13 deliveries from MI Cape Town’s spin duo Thomas Kaber and Liam Livingstone, but helped himself to 31 runs in the process, with 24 runs being four mighty sixes that sailed into the stands.
Not that any Klaasen needs any help, but debutant Kaber made it particularly easy for him by offering up two delectable full tosses.
“For us it's about taking the spinners on in the middle, play aggressively and win the game in the middle overs. My match-up arrived early in my innings. We’ve spoken about even if the match-up arrives in the first over, you have to make it count. If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t. Fortunately, for me it came off early,” Klaasen said.
“I was picking my bowlers to hit and it worked in my favour. It's something I've enjoyed over the last couple of years (facing spin). Sometimes it feels like they're scared to bowl to me. I'm just cashing in on it at the moment.”
Klaasen also praised the Kingsmead surface that saw 384 runs scored on it despite the match coming to a premature end due to the evening showers with 21 balls still remaining in DSG’s innings.
“There is not a lot turn which is brilliant. It’s been fantastic wickets. Our training facilities have also been really good as well.”
DSG are back in action tomorrow again when they face defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape away in Gqeberha.
There is a fitness concern surrounding captain Keshav Maharaj after the skipper limped off during MI Cape Town’s innings. However, Maharaj, who suffered a major Achilles tendon rupture last year, played down the seriousness of the injury.
“Just felt a little niggle. Will assess tomorrow and take it from there. I should be okay,” Maharaj said.
The skipper also heaped praise on Klaasen for his superb performance, especially as it had come in a run chase.
“Klaasen was phenomenal. Don't think any team wants to chase 200 but the wicket was very good. We bowled well in patches. 200 was probably par. Nice to see the template for chasing. Not an easy place to chase, Kingsmead,” he added.
