[Watch] Nicholas Pooran takes an absolute stunner to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen in SA vs WI 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clashÂ
West Indies wicket-keeper Nicholas Pooran took a sensational diving catch in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against South Africa to claim the crucial wicket of Heinrich Klaasen. The Proteas were threatening to run away with the game before Pooran put a halt with his fielding brilliance at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Sunday, June 23.
West Indies got the breakthrough they wanted after the rain break as Proteas skipper Aiden Markram was dismissed in the sixth over, bringing Klaasen to the crease. The contest was well poised with the score reading 42-3 after six overs, with the revised target being 123 runs in 17 overs.
Klaasen proceeded to provide a burst by taking on Motie for 20 runs in the seventh over. The wicket-keeper batter had raced off to 22 runs off nine deliveries, before Alzarri Joseph's bumper ended his cameo.
The right-arm pacer bowled a searing short-pitched delivery that the batter found hard to fend off. The ball struck his glove and looped over his head and over Pooran behind the stumps. The wicket-keeper had to run backwards and timed his athletic jump to perfection to claim the ball. Have a look at the sensational catch right here:
The dismissal reduced South Africa to 77-4 after eight overs. David Miller was the next batter to come in after Klaasen's departure.
South Africa enter a nervy territory after Pooran's brilliance
The Proteas had a firm command over the required run rate during Klaasen's short stay at the crease. However, the West Indies have managed to claw their way back into the contest. They made the crucial breakthrough by dismissing Klaasen, and then put pressure on Stubbs and Miller to induce a phase of play with no boundaries.
Miller's sluggish outing of four runs off 14 balls came to an end with Roston Chase's introduction into the attack. With the veteran finisher out of the equation, it is up to the settled Stubbs and South Africa's lower order to get them over the line.
As of writing, the Proteas are placed at 100-5 after 13 overs, with Marco Jansen coming into the crease.