Henrich Klaasen: JP Duminy was the key factor to my whole innings
SA hero Henrich Klaasen lauded skipper JP Duminy for backing him in what was a must-win match for the Proteas against the Indians. Klaasen put up a terrific stand alongside skipper Duminy for the 3rd wicket as he smashed a quickfire 69 off 30 balls to help the home team level the series 1-1.
For a player who was drafted into the national team only after an injury to first choice keeper-batsman Quinton De Kock, Henrich Klaasen has surely stepped up his game and hopefully sealed a berth in the South African national team. Klassen previously starred in the Pink day ODI win against the visitors on a rain-disrupted day, andĀ justifiedĀ his selection once again after a stunning knock of 69 off just 30 deliveries, an innings enabled the visitors to bounce back in the series.
But 26-year old Klaasen was quick to credit T20I skipper JP Duminy for his performance,Ā andĀ asserted that the latter āwas the key factor to his entire inningsā.
"Duminy was the key factor to my whole innings. Second over or the first over I faced, he told me this over needs to go for 10. He told me to just play my normal game and take the bowlers on. Luckily today it worked out,"Ā
"The way JP told me to go, this over needs to go for 20, it takes all the fear out of your game. Then it is very important to keep a calm head. There was a stage when I was swinging quite hard," Klaasen said off PTI sources.
Duminy himself played a significant knock of 97 off 49 deliveries as he led his team from the front against the Indian bowling department, who seemed like they were having an off-night in an otherwise impressive series. Klaasen, who was incidentally batting on his home ground yesterday, reckoned that this was one of his best outings as a batsman in tough conditions.
"This one definitely wins - my home ground. It's something you dream about as a young kid, to play for your country on your home ground, and to win a game for your country. This one takes the cherry on the cake,"Ā
"In the first five or six overs, we actually tried to keep up with Duckworth-Lewis. Luckily on the fifth or the sixth over, the drizzle stopped. I said to JP, we can now actually stay one boundary under the DL target, and it worked out," Klaasen added.
However, Klaasen, who has now put in two match-winning performances in the ongoing series versus the Indians, insists that his feet are firmly on the ground and says the squad misses the likes of De Kock, Temba Bavuma and skipper Faf Du Plessis.
"I think he (de Kock) is a world-class player. And our change room definitely misses him, especially top of the order. I don't think he has anything to worry about yet. If you look at Quinny, AB (de Villiers) and Faf (du Plessis) and with Temba (Bavuma) coming back as well, they are world class players. So, in some sort, to put my name in that list as well, it is definitely a very important stage of my career to put myself on the map or in this setup," Klaasen said.