Major League Cricket 2023: Klaasen outclasses New York, powers Seattle to the top of the table

HEINRICK KLAAASEN SCORED the first century of Major League Cricket, in a massive victory where he single handedly ensured the top of the table for Seattle Orcas.

Taking on MI New York, the Orcas didn't start the game that well. Nicholas Pooran (68 off 34) and Kieron Pollard (34 off 18) led the way for the 4th placed team to get to a formidable 194/8; despite Harmeet Singh (2/21) and Imad Wasim (2/23) doing their best to stop the run flow.

Chasing a target like that is no small task; and Seattle struggled to keep up as they kept losing wickets to Trent Boult (4/31) and Rashid Khan (2/41).

But Klaasen was in a class of his own. He not only held onto one end, but also played the best innings of the MLC season so far. In just 44 balls, he scored 110 runs, hitting 9 boundaries and 7 sixes along the way. He stayed there till the end, hitting the final sixer as an exclamation point to seal the win for the Orcas. Nauman Anwar (51 off 30) also played a major supporting role.

Seattle Orcas finished their league stage campaign with 8 points from 5 matches; above the rest of the pack. And although MI New York lost to the league leaders, they qualified for the playoffs thanks to their Net Run Rate being higher than San Francisco Unicorns, who also finished on 4 points.

In the playoffs, Seattle Orcas will play Texas Super Kings in the first qualifier match; and the winner will go to the final. Meanwhile, Washington Freedom will be the one to face MI New York in the eliminator game; and the winner will face the loser of the Seattle vs Texas game in the second qualifier match to determine who will be the other team in the grand finale.

Get the latest in the world of Sports, Teams, and Players! Free Delivery to your Inbox.