Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara hail Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen cricketHeinrich Klaasen.

Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar and former West Indies captain Brian Lara praised Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen after Thursday’s century for the Sunrisers Hyderabad against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2023 Indian Premier League.

Klaasen struck 104 from 51 deliveries, which included eight fours and six sixes, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad.

The century – Klaasen’s first in the IPL – pushed the Sunrisers to a final total of 186 for five in the alloted 20 overs.

In reply, Bangalore reached 187 for two in 19.2 overs for an eight wicket win with four deliveries to spare. Opener Virat Kohli struck 100.

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What Tendulkar said

“The IPL is a mix of creative and traditional batting. Today has been a Klaas-ic display of traditional batting,” Tendulkar wrote on social media.

“Klaasen’s footwork has been simple and uncomplicated, one of the best I’ve seen in the recent past. Treat to watch.”

What Lara said

“Klaasen played his heart out for the team for the entire season. He was rewarded tonight with a century,”  said Sunrisers head coach Lara.

What Klaasen said

“It’s a pretty special feeling to hit a maiden IPL century. The crowd has been fantastic all season, so it’s really great to get the first one here at home,” said Klaasen.

“I try to keep it as simple as possible. The two factors that I focus on is that my head and hands have to be dead still.

“Sometimes I search for a bit of flow with my hands and then the movement up and down creates a little bit of inconsistency, so I just try to focus on keeping my hands and head dead still.”

What Markram said

Klaasen hasn’t had the easiest path, he wouldn’t have dreamt of it. Great knock for him personally, even though it didn’t end with a win,” said SRH captain Aiden Markram.

What du Plessis said

“We felt it was a good wicket walking off and that 200 was the par score despite Klaasen’s ton,” said Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis.

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