MORRISVILLE: Heinrich Klaasen scored the first-ever century in the history of Major League Cricket (MLC) and powered Seattle Orcas to beat MI New York in the last group stage fixture on Tuesday.
Set to chase a massive 195, the Orcas amassed 195/8 with four balls to spare at the back of a scintillating century by Heinrich Klaasen.
The right-handed baton charged the MI New York bowlers on his way to an unbeaten 110.
He conceded a mere 44 deliveries and smashed nine boundaries and seven sixes amid his match-winning and record-setting knock.
Orcas were 37/2 in the sixth over when Heinrich Klaasen came out to bat. The right-handed batter soon anchored the run chase with a brilliant 62-run partnership with Nauman Anwar.
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The pair of Anwar and Klaasen dominated MI New York bowlers with belligerent hitting before Nosthush Kenjige finally removed the former.
Anwar scored 51 off 30 balls, smashing six boundaries and three sixes.
The Orcas then began to lose wickets at regular intervals but Heinrich Klaasen stood his ground firm and pulled off a sensational victory for his side with an unbeaten century.
He top-scored for the Orcas with a 44-ball 110 which featured nine boundaries and seven sixes, the highest individual score in the history of MLC.
Trent Boult led the bowling attack for MI New York with 4/31, followed by Rashid Khan’s 2/41.
Put into bat first, MI New York posted a commendable total of 194/8, thanks to a quickfire 68-run knock by Nicholas Pooran.
The wicketkeeper batter scored 68 in just 34 deliveries with the help of three boundaries and seven sixes.
Besides him, MI New York captain Kieron Pollard also made a vital contribution with an 18-ball 34 which featured one boundary and three sixes.
Trent Boult’s sensational six-ball 20 at the death further bolstered MI New York to a massive total.
Imad Wasim and Harmeet Singh led the bowling attack for the Orcas with two wickets each while Cameron Gannon and Andrew Tye made one scalp each.
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