Rashid Khan is known to be the best spinner in T20 cricket going around. The right arm leg spinner from Afghanistan, has built his reputation as being one of the most difficult bowlers to face in T20 cricket. It was an even match up as Heinrich Klassen of South Africa was facing off against the guiles of Rashid Khan during the Major League Cricket 2023 game on early Wednesday morning. The match between Mumbai Indians New York and Seattle Orcas was a thriller as Klassen scored a memorable century to win for the Orcas.
Klassen shows his class –
Seattle Orcas needed 53 runs to win from 30 balls as Rashid Khan was given the ball to bowl to Klassen. The first ball was bowled short as Klassen moved and hit it for a six. The second ball was hit for yet another six this over the long-on region. The third ball saw Khan gain some control as only two runs were scored to make it 14 runs of 3 balls bowled.
HEINRICH KLAASEN IS TAKING ON EVERYBODY!
— Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 26, 2023
Heinrich Klaasen BLASTS 3 SIXES against Rashid Khan!
1⃣6⃣6⃣/4⃣ (15.5) pic.twitter.com/nYJQrnXh06
Pendulum swings in favor of Orcas –
The 14 runs of the first 3 balls swung the match back in favor or Orcas as they suddenly needed 39 off 27 balls. The fourth ball was hit for a four as Klassen despatched the short ball over square leg. The 5th ball saw Klassen deposit the ball hit the ball for the 2nd time over the long on region for a six. The misery was finally complete for Rashid Khan as two runs were taken off the ball to make it 26 runs of the over. The equation was now down to 27 off 24 with 6.75 the asking rate from the 10.6 it was at the start of the 16th over.
Trent Boult bowls an immaculate 18th over –
If one though the match was done after the 26 run over from Rashid Khan, there was drama in store. Trent Boult was bowling his final over and it was the 18th over of the game. David Wiese had given just 7 runs in the 17th over to keep MI New York in the game.
Needing 20 off 18 balls, Boult got the wicket of Pretorius caught by Pooran for 2. The next ball saw the Kiwi get the wicket of Imad Wasim for a duck. In came Harmeet Singh who survived the hattrick ball. Singh was bowled when he mis-read the slower ball as it crashed into his off pole. Andrew Tye then picked 2 runs and defended the last ball as Boult brought MI New York firmly into the contest, picking 3 wickets and giving away only 3 runs.