31 Oct MARKRAM, MILLER AND BOWLERS HELP PROTEAS TO INDIA WIN
PERTH: Half centuries by Aiden Markram and David Miller lifted the Proteas top of Group 2 at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup thanks to a gripping five-wicket win over India in Perth on Sunday.
In what was a low-scoring affair at the Perth Stadium, it was the South African pace attack that set their side on their way by restricting the pre-tournament favourites to just 133 for nine. Player of the Match Lungi Ngidi led the way with a fine four for 29, with Wayne Parnell also razor sharp as he grabbed three for 15.
The Proteas lost three early wickets in reply, but Markram and Miller knuckled down initially to weather the storm, before cutting loose in a vital 76-run stand.
The former rode his luck to score 52 off 41 balls (6 fours, 1 six), while the latter was ice cool in scoring an unbeaten 59 off 46 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes) to carry South Africa home with two balls to spare.
The result meant that Temba Bavuma and his charges remained unbeaten in the competition and move to five points, one ahead of the Indians and Bangladesh, with two matches of the Super 12 stages to play.
They next take on Pakistan in Sydney on Thursday. And they will enter that game high on confidence following this showing which was set up by the bowlers.
After winning the toss and batting on a bouncy Perth pitch, India lost Rohit Sharma (15) and KL Rahul (9) in a feisty fifth over. The same bowler struck again to dismiss key man Virat Kohli (12) at the end of the seventh over – Kagiso Rabada taking the first of three catches.
After Deepak Hooda fell to Anrich Nortje (1/23) for a duck, South Africa’s premier fast bowler took an outstanding diving chance running around at fine leg off Ngidi to remove Hardik Pandya (2) and leave India in deep trouble on 49 for five.
But Suryakumar Yadav, one of the more dangerous players for his team in recent months, mixed attack with composure to rescue his side with his innings of 68 off 40 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes). He eventually became one of Parnell’s three late wickets that left the Proteas needing 134.
Quinton de Kock (1) suffered his first failure of the tournament, before Rilee Rossouw (0) followed leaving South Africa on two for three. Temba Bavuma (10) managed his highest score of the tournament but departed by the sixth over with his side in trouble on 24 for three.
It was left to Markram and Miller to rebuild and they were cautious for the next four overs with the score on just 40 for three at halfway. However, they cut loose immediately after the break with the former especially aggressive. Although he took his chances – he was dropped on 35 by Virat Kohli and captain Sharma missed an easy run-out opportunity on 36 – his ninth career 50 brought the Proteas back on course.
Markram was eventually dismissed with 34 required, but Miller then switched gears to carry the South Africans home with his sixth career T20I half century.
South Africa squad – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022
Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Gbets Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Gbets Warriors), Wayne Parnell (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rilee Rossouw (ITEC Knights), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tristan Stubbs (Gbets Warriors).
South Africa Group Stage Itinerary
Monday, 24 October – 19:00 (10:00 SAST)
South Africa vs Zimbabwe ended in a no result – Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Thursday, 27 October – 14:00 (05:00 SAST)
South Africa beat Bangladesh by 104 runs – SCG, Sydney
Sunday, 30 October – 19:00 (13:00 SAST)
South Africa beat India by five wickets – Perth Stadium, Perth
Thursday, 03 November – 19:00 (10:00 SAST)
Pakistan vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney
Sunday, 06 November – 10:30 (02:00 SAST)
South Africa vs Netherlands – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
ENDS
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications
ABOUT CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA
Cricket South Africa (CSA), an affiliate of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), is the national governing body for the sport of cricket in South Africa and administers all aspects of South African cricket, men and women, both in the professional and amateur spheres