03 Oct MILLER MAGIC NOT ENOUGH AS PROTEAS SUFFER NARROW LOSS TO INDIA
GUWAHATI: David Miller became the first South African to reach 2000 T20 International (T20I) runs during a pulsating century but that was still not enough as the Proteas suffered a 16-run defeat to India in an entertaining match two at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday.
The result meant that the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-game series.
In what represented a much-improved performance by the touring batsmen, they posted 221 for three chasing a mammoth 238 with Miller leading the charge through his stunning unbeaten 106 off 47 balls that included seven sixes and eight fours.
It was the 33-year-old’s second T20I century and one that was superbly supported by 69 not out (48 balls, 3 fours, 4 sixes) from Quinton de Kock and 33 from Aiden Markram.
However, their pursuit of such a tall target was always going to be tough and so it proved as the home team won a T20I series against South Africa for the first time on Indian soil.
The result had been set up by their batsmen, who after losing the toss and being asked to bat, surged to 237 for three. Their total was a result of full team effort in which everyone contributed. The top two of KL Rahul (57 off 28 balls, 5 fours, 4 sixes) and Rohit Sharma (43) led the way after they put on 96 for the opening wicket. Virat Kohli (49 not out), Suryakumar Yadav (61 off 22 balls, 5 fours, 5 sixes) and Dinesh Karthik (17 not out) continued to attack, lifting their side to an imposing total.
Keshav Maharaj finished with remarkable figures of two for 23 amidst the carnage.
The Proteas’ struggles continued at the top of the order in reply after they lost captain Temba Bavuma and Rilee Rossouw, both for ducks with the score on one.
Rebuilding took place through De Kock and Markram initially, before the former and Miller then added an unbroken 174 for the fourth wicket – the highest T20I partnership ever for their country – before ending short on 221 for three. The latter and De Kock (1964) also overhauled JP Duminy (1934) as the highest scorers in the format for South Africa.
Proteas T20I squad against India
Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (DP World Lions), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Gbets Warriors), 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), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dwaine Pretorius (North West Dragons), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rilee Rossouw (ITEC Knights), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tristan Stubbs (Gbets Warriors).
South Africa T20I Tour to India Itinerary (all times local)
Wednesday, 28 September at 19:00
India beat South Africa by 8 wickets – Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Sunday, 02 October at 19:00
India beat South Africa by 16 runs – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
Tuesday, 04 October at 19:00
India vs South Africa – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
ENDS
Issued by: Cricket South Africa – Corporate Communications
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