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Klaasen milestone edges Titans closer
Heinrich Klaasen’s maiden franchise hundred last week against the Hollywoodbets Dolphins helped the Multiply Titans to a crucial two wicket win to take them to the top of the Sunfoil Series log ahead of the competition’s final round on Thursday 09 February.
The Titans victory, coupled with the Knights loss to the Cobras in the tournament’s penultimate round saw the defending champions Titans leapfrog the Knights into top spot.
With their final match starting on Thursday in Benoni against the bottom-placed Warriors, Klaasen and company know that their fate lies in their own hands.
“The big thing is that we want to get one up on the Warriors, because they beat us quite comfortably in the first half of the season. I do still that everyone is still in play and there are a couple of teams that can still win this competition – so this weekend is very important for us,” said Klaasen.
“The nice thing about this week is that if we win, we take the trophy; so it is all in our hands. We can’t blame anyone else if something goes wrong, it is all on us. The log is very close and that is healthy for the competition,” he added.
Klaasen’s first innings 193 against the Dolphins in Pietermaritzburg last week was his maiden Sunfoil Series ton and his seventh first-class century.
His 150-run seventh wicket stand with Shaun von Berg (54) helped the Titans to a first innings lead of 102 runs, before a nervy 91-run fourth innings target was achieved with eight wickets down.
“The wicket was very difficult to play on, especially against the spinners as one would skid on and one would rip. Prenelan Subrayen bowled well and everything happened from his end, so it was very nerve wrecking to score 90 runs,” explained the Titans wicketkeeper-batsman.
To date in the Sunfoil Series, Klaasen has played eight matches, scoring 621 runs at an average of 56.45 courtesy of the aforementioned hundred and a further four fifties.
With Mangaliso Mosehle’s departure to the Lions, Klaasen has been relishing extended game time as the first choice wicketkeeper.
“I have been waiting for this opportunity for quite a while. I was very happy to have a good T20 competition and a decent four-day series so far. I know how it feels to be back in the queue, so I want to keep this position for myself.”
“For me, it is very important to keep performing every single game,” said the former Menlopark High School and Tuks student.
Boasting a career average of 50.41 in his 50 First-Class matches, the 25-year-old Klaasen will be hoping for another milestone this weekend as the Titans aim to claim their second piece of silverware for the season having already won the T20 Challenge in December 2016.