Mitchell Starc, IPL 2024’s most expensive acquisition, had a nightmarish return to the league in Kolkata, as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) exploited his wayward bowling in their season opener. The renowned left-arm pacer struggled to find his line and length, remaining wicketless while conceding a whopping 53 runs in his four-over spell. It was South African batsman Heinrich Klaasen who capitalized on Starc’s off day, particularly targeting him for three massive sixes in a single over.
The pivotal moment unfolded in the penultimate over of SRH’s innings, with the game finely poised and the team requiring 39 runs off the final two overs. Klaasen’s onslaught began in style, launching Starc for a colossal six on the first delivery.
Despite Starc’s attempt at a comeback with a dot ball, Heinrich Klaasen stunned him with two consecutive sixes on the third and fourth deliveries of the over. The Proteas batsman’s assault continued as Shahbaz Ahmed sealed the over with another six, leaving Starc with figures to forget – none for 53.
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Heinrich Klaasen’s display of power hitting left KKR’s mentor Gautam Gambhir visibly astonished, as he animatedly reacted to the fireworks on display.
Here are the videos of the sixes:
Kavya Maran is happy So we are happy pic.twitter.com/ZgO1YrBbgS
— who_am_i (@farzi__tweeter) March 23, 2024
However, despite Heinrich Klaasen’s batting brilliance, SRH fell agonizingly short of victory, missing the target by a mere five runs. Harshit Rana emerged as the hero for KKR, displaying nerves of steel as he successfully defended 13 runs in the final over, securing a thrilling win for his team.
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KKR posted a commanding total of 208/7 on the scoreboard after being put in to bat first. The fireworks were led by the explosive batting display of Andre Russell, who bludgeoned 64 runs off just 25 deliveries. Phil Salt also made a significant contribution with a well-compiled 54 off 40 balls. Additionally, Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh chipped in with crucial runs, ensuring a formidable total for the Knight Riders.
