In the batting paradise of Wankhede, South Africa capitalized to post a formidable total of 399/7 after being asked to bat first. The standout performance was delivered by Heinrich Klaasen, who blazed his way to 109 off just 67 deliveries, featuring an impressive tally of 12 boundaries and four towering sixes.
Klaasen’s explosive innings earned him the admiration of the crowd, who cheered him on despite his evident struggle with the scorching Mumbai heat. As Klaasen approached the 90-run mark off 58 balls, Mark Wood stepped up to bowl the 47th over.
Despite battling fatigue and appearing fatigued during drinks breaks, Klaasen faced another stern challenge as Wood unleashed a fiery yorker on the second delivery. The ball struck Klaasen’s leg, sending him sprawling on the ground in an embarrassing moment. It took him a moment to regain his composure, but what followed was unexpected.
On the very next delivery, another attempted yorker from Wood was ruthlessly dispatched over long-off by the pumped-up Klaasen. In the blink of an eye, he flicked the following ball to the backward square leg for a boundary, bringing up a remarkable century in just 62 balls, marking his maiden World Cup ton.
In an ecstatic display, as the ball raced towards the boundary, Klaasen let out a thunderous roar on the pitch, closing his eyes and clenching his fists in a passionate celebration. It was a sight to behold, but Wood found himself unusually close to the spectacle.
— Young Gopal (@younggopal467) October 21, 2023
— Young Gopal (@younggopal467) October 21, 2023
In the midst of the jubilation, Klaasen unintentionally roared right in the bowler’s face. Wood briefly appeared taken aback but eventually returned to his mark. After the euphoria settled down, Klaasen promptly apologized for his actions with a few words and a raised hand.