Champions Trophy: Proteas' Heinrich Klaasen ready to make good on pre-tournament promise

Heinrich Klaasen has boldly stated that he wants “to be the best in the world” after leading the Proteas into the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals on Saturday.

Klaasen has long been regarded as one of the finest strikers of the white-ball across limited-overs formats, but is currently in the midst of an elongated purple patch. 

The 33-year-old blitzed 64 off 56 balls to help the Proteas cruise past England’s 179 all out with more than 20 overs to spare at Karachi’s National Stadium. It was Klaasen’s fifth consecutive ODI half-century.

Overall, he has struck 1,205 ODI runs at an average of 54.77 over the past two years. Klaasen also took the Proteas to the brink of a first-ever ICC T20 World Cup title when he blasted 52 off just 27 balls in the final against India.

"I gave myself a challenge with Rob Walter this trip: I want to be the best in the world," Klaasen told Sky Sports after the Proteas’ seven-wicket victory.

"I know I can play situations well. I'm quite pleased with my innings tonight.

"I think I'm very blessed at the moment where I'm with my game, and understanding my game quite well.

"I'm not a guy that faces all our seamers in the nets. I just do a couple of drills and face a little bit of spin. At the moment, I'm meeting the ball out of the middle of the bat. That's my piece that I go with, and as long as my technique is good, I'm quite happy."

Klaasen shared a match-winning 127-run partnership off 122 balls with Rassie van der Dussen (72 not out) for the Proteas’ third wicket, but was caught at short third man off England leg-spinner Rashid Khan while attempting to hit the winning runs. 

"I want to jump off this building, the way I went out tonight," joked Klaasen, who missed the Proteas’ competition opener against Afghanistan with an elbow injury.

Proteas stand-in skipper Aiden Markram, who was deputising for the ill Temba Bavuma, know sthey are blessed to have a player of the calibre of Klaasen within their squad heading into the knockout stages.

"It's always great to see him out in the middle,” Markram said. 

“He's been in a ridiculous patch of form over the last many months, and for him to walk out after having a little niggle on his elbow and for it to look like he'd never really left is a great sign for us."

The Proteas’ semi-final opponents will only be determined after Sunday’s final Pool A clash between New Zealand and India in Dubai.

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