22 Jul MILLER BATS PROTEAS TO UNASAILABLE T20I SERIES LEAD
BELFAST: David Miller smashed an unbeaten 75 off 44 deliveries to set up victory by 42 runs for the Proteas at Stormont Cricket Club on Thursday. The visitors take an unassailable, 2-0 lead in the three-match series which ends on Saturday, 24 July.
The batting innings did not get off to a good start. After winning the toss, South Africa lost two wickets in the opening over by Paul Stirling (2/12). Temba Bavuma and Janneman Malan departed without scoring after both were caught by Josh Little. Quinton de Kock tried to stabilize the innings with Aiden Markram but lost his partner to Mark Adair in the fourth over for eight.
De Kock was next to depart, trapped leg before by Simi Singh (1/26) for 27 off 20 deliveries, leaving South Africa rocked on 38/4 at the start of the seventh over. Miller entered the fray after the team lost Rassie van der Dussen for six. He shared the face-saving and match-winning, 58-run, sixth-wicket partnership with Wiaan Mulder (36 off 26).
The tourists lost both Mulder and Bjorn Fortuin (5 off 4) in the 18 th and 19 th overs, but Miller still had some fireworks in store for the bowlers. He smashed four sixes in the final over and gave his bowling unit a solid score to defend as South Africa closed their innings on 159/7.
The bowlers did not disappoint. The spin duo of Tabraiz Shamsi (3/14) and Bjorn Fortuin (3/16) led the charge, picking up six wickets between them. While some dropped catches saw opportunities lost, Beuran Hendricks managed to return an impressive 2/28 in his first appearance for the team on the tour and was accompanied well by Lungi Ngidi (1/14) and Markram (1/17) in their hauling out of the home team for 117 in the end.
The final match will take place at the same venue and will begin at 16:00.
ENDS