What record did Heinrich Klaasen break in IPL 2025?

Synopsis
Heinrich Klaasen's explosive 37-ball century led Sunrisers Hyderabad to an astonishing 278/3 against Kolkata Knight Riders, marking the third-fastest ton in IPL history. This match showcased SRH's batting prowess and KKR's struggle in the bowling department, setting the stage for an exhilarating finish to the season.
Key Takeaways
- Heinrich Klaasen scored the third-fastest century in IPL history.
- SRH posted a total of 278/3, one of the highest in IPL.
- Travis Head supported Klaasen with a crucial 76 runs.
- KKR's bowlers struggled throughout the innings.
- The match showcased the explosive nature of T20 cricket.
New Delhi, May 25 (NationPress) Heinrich Klaasen delivered an extraordinary performance for Sunrisers Hyderabad, smashing an incredible unbeaten century off just 37 balls, marking the third-fastest century in IPL history. This remarkable feat propelled the team to a staggering total of 278/3 against a struggling Kolkata Knight Riders at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.
Taking advantage of a fresh pitch used for the first time this season, Klaasen’s promotion to the No.3 spot proved pivotal as he showcased his skills with powerful strokes straight down the ground. He finished with an impressive 105 runs off 39 balls, featuring seven fours and nine sixes at a phenomenal strike rate of 269.23, contributing to one of the highest IPL totals ever.
Klaasen's second IPL century was complemented by a stunning innings from Travis Head, who scored 76 off 40 balls, which included six fours and six sixes. Support also came from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Aniket Verma, with the team scoring 74 runs in the final five overs.
The bowling attack from KKR was lackluster, as both pace and spin bowlers were taken to task by the aggressive SRH batting lineup. Their inability to maintain consistent lengths allowed Klaasen & Co. to dominate the match, positioning SRH for a strong finish to the season.
Choosing to bat first, after a subdued opening over, Head unleashed a powerful six off Anrich Nortje, while Abhishek followed up with boundaries, resulting in 20 runs off the second over. Head continued his assault by hitting two sixes off Vaibhav Arora, leading to another 19 runs in the third.
Head’s aggression was evident as he capitalized on Harshit Rana's inconsistent bowling, hitting three fours in the fourth over, while Abhishek lofted and pulled Nortje for more boundaries. The power-play ended with SRH at an impressive 79/0.
Abhishek continued his onslaught, hitting Sunil Narine for two sixes before falling for 32 runs off 16 balls. Head, however, remained unstoppable, pulling Varun Chakaravarthy for six and reaching his fifty in just 26 balls, with SRH's score crossing 100 within 7.2 overs.
Klaasen then joined the scoring spree with sixes and fours against Chakaravarthy and Narine. KKR brought in Andre Russell to turn the tide, but Klaasen and Head continued to find boundaries, with Klaasen reaching fifty in just 17 balls.
After Head's dismissal for 76, Klaasen and Kishan kept the momentum going, with Klaasen hitting two sixes off Narine and multiple boundaries off Chakaravarthy, leading SRH past 200 runs in the 15th over. Although Kishan scored 29 runs before getting out, Klaasen celebrated his century on the final ball of the 19th over, finishing unbeaten at 105.
Final scores:
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 278/3 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen: 105, Travis Head: 76; Sunil Narine: 2-42, Vaibhav Arora: 1-39) against Kolkata Knight Riders.