A heart-warming gesture was seen during Match 20 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 between South Africa and England when the explosive South Africa batter Heinrich Klaasen apologized to England speedster Mark Wood for his aggressive century celebration. However, Klaasen played an amazing knock in the match against the Three Lions and smashed a swashbuckling century at the famous Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday, October 21.
Notably, he smashed 109 runs off 67 balls, with 12 fours and 4 sixes, and added a 151-run partnership with Marco Jansen. However, Klaasen completed his hundred in style by smashing Mark Wood for a six and four in the 47th over as well. After completing his century, the wicketkeeper-batter did an aggressive celebration and roared in front of Wood. However, at the end of the over Klaasen went towards the veteran pacer to apologize for his over-the-top celebration as the pacer didn’t like it. Also, the duo exchanged a fist bump also.
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However, Klaasen’s hundred was the fifth ton for South Africa in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which is the joint most for them in a single edition of the tournament as well.
After the game, Heinrich Klaasen who won the Player of the Match said as Cricbuzz: One of my best (knocks) ever, I was hitting the ball nicely, this knock will go down as one of my better ones. It was proper heat, saps all the energy out of you. The heat out there was extreme. They (England) were physically under the pump but a couple of wickets got them back in. Next level (Jansen’s knock). This award needs to go to him (Jansen). He kept me going and pumped me up saying you are not leaving the ground without an 100. He has been phenomenal, has been batting so well. The runs he scored were so vital for us. That loss (against Netherlands) was a tough one, but we know we are playing good cricket. One loss doesn’t make us a bad team. Had some chats and our boys bounced back with the training sessions. It was a fantastic performance today.
