Share

Klaasen: My dream is fulfilled

Cape Town - South African cricket's latest hero, Heinrich Klaasen, says that his dream is fulfilled, even if he hasn't done enough to command a regular place in the Proteas limited overs set-up.

Klaasen played one of the most explosive T20 knocks the Proteas have ever seen on Wednesday night as he crushed 69 off just 30 balls to give South Africa a six-wicket victory in the second T20I at Centurion.

The series, thanks largely to Klaasen's epic innings, is now squared at 1-1.

Klaasen smacked seven 6s and three 4s in his blistering knock, and at this stage it is hard to see how he can be ignored even when Quinton de Kock returns to the fray.

Klaasen has been keeping wicket with De Kock out injured, but it is with the bat where he has really shone.

The 26-year-old knows, though, that there are a number of Proteas returning from injury who will make the competition for places even stronger.

"If you look at Quinny, AB (De Villiers), Faf (Du Plessis) and with Temba (Bavuma) coming back ... they're world class players," Klaasen said at his man-of-the-match press conference on Wednesday.

"It's just to put my name in the hat as well and to put myself on the map or in the set-up.

"If this may be my last game I play this weekend, then so be it. My dream is fulfilled ... now it becomes a job."

Klaasen also credited the role stand-in captain JP Duminy (64* off 40) played in the victory.

"JP took all the fear out of my game and it was very important to stay calm," Klaasen explained.

"There were stages where I was swinging quite hard and I had to tell myself to relax a bit and take the one."

The third and final T20I takes place in Cape Town on Saturday.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
loading... Live
Mamelodi Sundowns 2
Sekhukhune United FC 0
loading... Live
Arsenal 0
Chelsea 0
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
32% - 1843 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1810 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1100 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 470 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 193 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 261 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE