Heinrich Klaasen says mindset "not even close to T20 cricket" on New York pitch

The South African batter top-scored for his side in a tight win over Bangladesh on Monday

Heinrich Klaasen has given his thoughts on the New York pitches in the Men's T20 World Cup - which have copped some flak - and how the approach to playing there is dissimilar to other T20 grounds.

The South African batter top-scored with 46 from 44 in a four-run victory over Bangladesh on Monday (June 10), in which the Proteas posted 113.

"I think David [Miller] showed us in the previous game [against Netherlands] how to bat on this wicket and it's almost a similar way that we bat in the middle overs in a one-day game," Klaasen said.

"So, our mindset is not even close to T20 cricket. You just want to get in and find a way to bat at a run a ball. And we know you're one or two hits away just for going over the run-a-ball strike-rate."

^{Heinrich Klaasen top-scored in New York against Bangladesh (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)}

Klaasen also added that the skills of Bangladesh's bowlers had forced South Africa to adapt: "Third game on the wicket," he said. "These guys are incredible when the wicket becomes slow. So that was the biggest reason why we didn't want to chase 120.

"Because the wicket was definitely better than other games. But given Bangladesh, when pressure is on, and they have to go into cutters, they've got some of the world's best cutter-bowlers and their spinners are high quality. So that was the biggest reason why we chose to bat first."

South Africa's third win in as many games at the tournament means they have all but qualified without needing to win their next game, providing other results in Group D stick with the formbook.

New York plays host to two more games - Pakistan vs Canada on Tuesday (June 11) and USA vs India on Wednesday (June 12).

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