In the ongoing fourth ODI between South Africa and Australia, the Proteas needed to win in order to keep the series. After losing the first two games, the Green Brigade managed to keep themselves alive after a convincing win against the Kangaroos. On the other hand, the Aussies were looking to seal the series in this game only. Meanwhile, in this game, the visitors, Australia won the toss and bowled first.
They had a decent start as Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks, who opened the batting for the first time in this series, put together 64 runs in 12.5 overs. Hendricks (28) was the first wicket to fall to Nathan Ellis. De Kock (46 off 64 balls) played an uncharacteristic innings despite being in form during the series. Aiden Markram (8), who was leading the side for this game in the absence of Temba Bavuma, failed to deliver.
The former was coming off a last-ball hundred in the previous game. Rassie van Der Dussen (62) couldn't convert his start to a big score. At one stage, the home side was 194/4 in 34.4 overs.
South Africa had a dream recovery thanks to Heinrich Klassen and David Miller
At 194/4, the likes of Heinrich Klassen and David Miller, who are known for their power-hitting, decided not to bog down due to the fall of wickets. They put together 222 runs off 94 balls. Talking about Klassen, he blasted 174 off 83 balls, his highest ODI score including 13 fours and as many sixes. On the other hand, Miller amassed 82 off 45 balls including six fours and five sixes.
They helped the team reach 416/5, the highest team in the series so far. Australia also attempted the same in the second ODI but was rather restricted on 392/8 on a supporting wicket. In the series, both teams have been playing a different form of cricket, associated more with what England has been doing since 2015. Meanwhile, in this game, the Yellow Brigade's chase has started on a poor note as they have lost two wickets for 46 runs in seven overs.
This is how Twitter reacted
He is not human He is a beast๐ฅ๐ฅ 153* from 77 balls#SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/1QYs4DcZHh
โ crazyX (@sultanhaider259) September 15, 2023
SA 416/5
SA in first 32 overs - 157/3
SA in last 18 overs - 259/2
Klaasen 174(83) & Miller 82*(45)
Unreal owning ๐ญ๐ญ๐๐คฃ#SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/4DnJkGju6D
โ kohl!tyยนโธ ๐ฎ๐ณ (@Kohlity82) September 15, 2023
Heinrich Klaasen has just hit a 142 kmph wide yorker from Hazlewood for a six over third man. #SAvsAUS
โ Peeyush Sharma (@peeyushsharmaa) September 15, 2023
What a fuckin knock man ๐ฅถ๐ฅ
174(83)#SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/fDawmabTPgโ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐ก (@Santhos64i) September 15, 2023
Heinrich Klaasen's today innings:
โขFirst 25 balls - 24 runs.
โขLast 58 balls - 150 runs (258.62 SR).One of the craziest and greatest innings in the history of ODI Cricket - TAKE A BOW, KLAASEN.#Klaasen #SAvsAUS #AUSvsSA #INDvBAN#Abhisha #Elvishapic.twitter.com/VyxP8kGtns
โ Deepak Jangid (@itsDeepakJangid) September 15, 2023
Runs 222*
Balls 94
SR 209Fastest double century partnership in ODI history ๐ฅ
David Miller & Heinrich Klaasen take a bow. Incredible ๐ฅ๐ #CricketTwitter#Klaasen #Miller #SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/MsWPGNM4GO
โ Lawrence Bailey โช ๐ฟ๐ฆ (@LawrenceBailey0) September 15, 2023
Vintage ODI Cricket What a show ๐ฅต๐ฅ#SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/hZtsMBF6Vs
โ Rosh (@roshblazze) September 15, 2023
One of the greatest ODI knocks of all-time ๐ฅ๐ฅ
174 (83)
13 Fours
13 SIXES ๐๐ฅฐ๐ฅฐ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
209.63 SRFrom 120/3 in 25.1 over to 416/5 in 50 overs.
Exhilarating knock.
Absolute beast of an innings.#SAvsAUS #AUSvSA #SAvAUS
list#IndiaWCJerseyLeak pic.twitter.com/8LYcbES3Uoโ Saddam Husain (@SaddamH88394249) September 15, 2023
Klassen with 174 runs & Miller with 82* helped south Africa to post a massive total of 416 runs against Australia.
ODI cricket is always better than T20 cricket.
Peaking right before #ICCWorldCup2023 ๐๐#INDvBAN #AUSvsSA #SAvsAUS #Cricket #miller #klaassen #SouthAfricaโฆ pic.twitter.com/OONjzGI5HO
โ Abhishek Singhal (@abhitweets20) September 15, 2023
Brother of destruction - Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller.
The duo scored 222* (94) - the fastest ever double century partnership in ODIs.#SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/whZZh721Yb
โ Rajhans (@imrajhans__) September 15, 2023