Premier Cricket: Fred Klaassen shines on Monash Tigers debut
MONASH Tigers’ new Dutchman made a flying start to his Premier Cricket career on Saturday.
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MONASH Tigers’ new Dutchman made a flying start to his Premier Cricket career on Saturday.
Left-arm paceman Fred Klaassen shone with 4-23 from 6.4 overs as he marked his debut for the Tigers in style.
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“Being a left-armer is something a bit different as well which really helps,” Tigers skipper Daniel Sartori said.
“He’s quite a tall guy, so that helps him as well. He’s just a bit different to what you come across at Premier level.
“I don’t think there’s too many big left-armers going around.”
Klaassen, who made his one-day international debut for the Netherlands in August and has played five T20 internationals, joined Monash due to his friendship with fellow Dutch international Scott Edwards.
Edwards, who has Dutch heritage, became friends with Klaassen while playing in the Netherlands during the off-season.
The gloveman flagged the idea of an Australian summer with Klaassen, who recently signed with English county side Kent, and the 25-year-old jumped at the opportunity.
“He has just fitted in with the group really well and is very reliable,” Sartori said.
“You give him the ball and he knows what to do, which as a captain is nice to have.”
Premier batsmen have become accustomed to facing probing left-arm deliveries from pacemen wearing Monash’s yellow and black strip.
Monash Tigers record wicket-taker Allan Wise, another tall left-arm fast bowler, collected more than 500 scalps during his decorated career.
“He’s got the ability to swing the new ball as well,” Sartori said of Klaassen.
“But he’s more settle in, hit the deck and bowl good areas which are hard to score.”
Klaassen took 3-30 and 3-38 in his first two one-day internationals, which were against Nepal in Dutch city Amstelveen.
Called on by Sartori after Mitch Perry and Dan Christian shared the new ball on Saturday, Klaassen celebrated a debut wicket when he had danger man Tom Russ caught without scoring.
Magpies captain Simon Hill (17) was his next victim, trapped lbw, before he wrapped up Camberwell’s innings by removing Dylan Hodge (20) and Matthew Whittaker (19).
Marcus Berryman took 3-22, while rising star Perry’s return was further reason for optimism from a sterling bowling performance.
“I am certainly looking at our attack as one of the better attacks in the competition. I’m not scared to say that,” Sartori said.
“Marcus Berryman is a big one that goes underrated. People are just starting to realise how good of a bowler Marcus is going to be.
“Dom Matarazzo took nearly 40 wickets last year. With the added bonus of Dan Christian playing a few games, Mitch Perry coming back and you add in Freddy, it starts to be a really good list.”
The Magpies were all out for 112 in 37.4 overs and Monash took just 22.3 overs to complete an emphatic seven-wicket victory at Camberwell Sports Ground.
“Really good start to the year. They are always a pretty strong side, Camberwell, so very happy,” Sartori said.
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