Heinrich Klaasen confessed to playing “old school tricks” and pausing the game

South Africa’s Heinrich Klaasen confessed to playing “old school tricks” and pausing for time during his team’s series-levelling defeat against England.

England were on their way to defeat the Proteas during Friday’s second one-day international when Klaasen, who was batting with Dwayne Pretorius, decided to run the clock in the hope that a light drizzle would hit the Emirates at Old Trafford. It had started to fall in the heavy rain.

A minimum of 20 overs are required per innings in ODI cricket to constitute a full match, and with 11 runs during the Proteas’ doomed chase, Klaasen began a break in the game as he played white under sight. Had complained about a small patch of .

England – who needed the result to take a 1-1 lead in Sunday’s decider at Headingley – were clearly frustrated with the strategy, which appeared to be little more than opportunism. The gamble was ultimately unsuccessful, with little rain and England eventually defeating their opponents for 83 runs to win a 118-run victory.

Heinrich Klaasen said with a grin, “It was zero percent (because) of the ball disappearing into the screen.”

“It was just an old school trick to see if I change the pace and slow down the game a bit.

“The England players didn’t like it. I knew it was going to come so it’s nothing new for me. But for me, in that situation, we weren’t in a good position, so it just broke the pace of the game. Had to spoil a bit, let’s see what happens. It rained a bit hard… Hope the umpires could have dropped us.”

It was a bit of an old school trick to see if I just changed the tempo and slowed the game down a bit.

England captain Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow made no secret of their annoyance and revealed it. But Klaasen was adamant about this.

“It frustrated a number of English boys so the trick worked a little. That kind of stuff doesn’t bother me at all, it’s fun and games,” he said.

“Hopefully we can have a cold drink or beer after the next game and be good mates. If they can put it on the field, it’ll be easier for me to put it on the field. What they say is me I have no problem with what they say, what they do to me. But let it be on the field.”