BACKING HIMSELF PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR RECORD-BREAKER VERREYNNE

It was on a crazy night when the lights went out at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom that Kyle Verreynne made an outrageous statement.

The world had just witnessed his great rival Heinrich Klaasen smash an incredible 174 off just 83 balls against Australia in the fourth ODI at Centurion.

But Verreynne, who was full of confidence after his 101 off just 65 balls against North West in the CSA 1-Day Cup, boldly claimed that “anything Klaasen can do, I can do”.

It certainly raised some eyebrows, particularly with Klaasen being arguably the premier white-ball middle-order batter in the world.

But while the Durban's Super Giants star Klaasen continued to blaze away at venues all around the world, Verreynne stayed under the radar with some spectacular performances for WP by leading them to the CSA 1-Day Cup title, which included another century in the final.

And even though Klaasen has again torched through Betway SA20 with 310 runs, including the competition’s fastest half-century off just 17 balls, Verreynne has been sitting quietly in the wings waiting for his opportunity at the Pretoria Capitals.

And when he did, he launched his competition in style with an undefeated 72 not out in the 'Big City' derby against the Joburg Super Kings - who let him go back into the auction pool at the end of Season 1.

But that was nothing in comparison to him smashing the lights out at Centurion on Thursday when Verreynne tore up the SA20 record books with a competition best of 116 not out against MI Cape Town.

It bettered JSK captain Faf du Plessis's 113 last season.

Although the Capitals still went down by 34 runs to MICT, Verreynne had proved to the world that he can indeed do anything - or even better - anything Klaasen can do.

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“Special night,” Verreynne enthused after his record-breaking feat. 

“It was a really good wicket. The best white ball wicket I have played on.

“Got my one-day game sorted. And now I feel satisfied about my T20 game.”

Although not physically not as strong as Klaasen, Verreynne showed that timing can be equally destructive by smashing seven boundaries and nine sixes. 

He feels that a part of his success is due to being patient and knowing that he can build momentum as his innings progresses.

“There is so much time in T20 cricket that we get too rushed,” Verreynne said.

The Capitals will hope that Verreynne continues his run spree at Newlands when they meet MI Cape Town in a must-win game on Saturday.