Klaasen takes charge as Dockers cruise past Wolves in Dublin

Dublin, 12 September 2026: Heinrich Klaasen’s unbeaten 47 and an unbroken 75-run partnership with Shubham Ranjane carried Rotterdam Dockers to a seven-wicket win over Belfast Wolves in the European T20 Premier League at Malahide.

Klaasen produced the decisive innings as Rotterdam Dockers chased down 162 with two overs remaining to defeat Belfast Wolves by seven wickets in the European T20 Premier League at Malahide on Saturday.

The Dockers appeared to have work to do when Michael Levitt was dismissed for 44 at the end of the 12th over, leaving them 87-3. What followed, however, turned a potentially tight chase into a convincing one.

Klaasen and Shubham Ranjane added an unbeaten 75 for the fourth wicket, combining controlled batting with timely acceleration as Belfast struggled to find another breakthrough.

Klaasen finished unbeaten on 47 from 26 deliveries, striking two fours and three sixes, while Ranjane contributed 29 not out from only 16 balls.

Their partnership carried Rotterdam to 162-3 after 18 overs, completing the chase with 12 deliveries unused.

Earlier, Rotterdam captain Faf du Plessis had elected to field after winning the toss.

Belfast lost Paul Stirling for 12 in the second over, but Lorcan Tucker and Harry Manenti rebuilt the innings with a 53-run partnership.

Manenti made 24 before Shubham Ranjane removed him, while Tucker provided the backbone of the Wolves innings.

The wicketkeeper-batter reached his half-century from 37 balls and went on to make 58 from 42, hitting seven fours.

Belfast were 96-3 when Mark Chapman fell for 11, but Tucker and David Miller kept them moving towards a competitive total.

The innings then changed sharply late in the 16th over. Anrich Nortje bowled Tucker before removing captain Glenn Maxwell for a first-ball duck, leaving Belfast 120-5.

Miller ensured the Wolves still finished strongly. The left-hander scored 40 from 26 balls, including two fours and two sixes, before falling with one delivery remaining in the innings.

Chris Jordan added an unbeaten 11 from seven balls as Belfast closed on 161-6.

Nortje finished with 2-37, while Logan van Beek also claimed two wickets. David Wiese and Ranjane took one each.

Rotterdam’s reply began with an early setback when Rassie van der Dussen was dismissed for six, but du Plessis and Levitt prevented Belfast from building sustained pressure.

The pair added 66 for the second wicket before du Plessis departed for 31 from 26 balls.

Levitt followed shortly afterwards for 44 from 34 deliveries, with four fours and a six, giving Belfast a possible opening at 87-3.

Instead, Klaasen immediately shifted the momentum back towards Rotterdam.

With Ranjane matching his tempo at the other end, the pair required only five overs to take Rotterdam from 100 to 150. Belfast were unable to separate them, and the Dockers completed the chase in the 18th over.

Klaasen’s finishing effort earned him the Player of the Match award as Rotterdam secured two points from the victory.

Scores in brief:

Rotterdam Dockers beat Belfast Wolves by seven wickets with 12 balls remaining

Belfast Wolves 161-6, 20 overs (Lorcan Tucker 58, David Miller 40, Harry Manenti 24; Anrich Nortje 2-37, Logan van Beek 2-41, Shubham Ranjane 1-25)

Rotterdam Dockers 162-3, 18 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 47 not out, Michael Levitt 44, Faf du Plessis 31, Shubham Ranjane 29 not out; Harry Manenti 1-12, Matthew Humphreys 1-39, Mark Adair 1-40)

Player of the Match: Heinrich Klaasen (Rotterdam Dockers)