David Miller carried his sensational IPL type to worldwide cricket as South Africa made a mockery of the Indian bowling assault to gun down their highest ever run-chase and race to a seven wicket win within the opening T20 right here on Thursday.
Rassie Van der Dussen (71 not out off 45 ) and Miller (64 not out off 31) shared an unbeaten 131-run stand to chase down a stiff 212-run goal with ridiculous ease and 5 balls to spare.
India had posted an imposing to 211 for 4 with the assistance of Ishan Kishan (76 off 48 balls), new skipper Rishabh Pant (29 off 16) and Hardik Pandya (31 off 12).
However, it was not meant to be because the Indians have been outdone by the brilliance of Miller and van der Dussen, who toyed with the opposition assault.
South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma (10) and Quinton de Kock (22) have been off to a flyer as they raced to 22/0 within the first two overs. However, the ever-reliable Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled an excellent leg-cutter to dismiss Bavuma.
Dwayne Pretorius (29 off 13) and de Kock then took leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik to the cleaners.
While Chahal gave away 16 runs, Hardik, whose return to bowling was extremely anticipated forward of the collection, leaked 18 runs and was slammed for 3 sixes by Pretorius, together with one which was 91m lengthy.
Harshal Patel lastly broke the partnership as he bamboozled Pretorius with a gradual full toss.
The Indian bowlers saved hanging at common intervals and restrict the boundaries, slowing the proceedings. But ‘Killer Miller’ had completely different concepts.
Continuing his stellar run from the IPL, the Southpaw smashed a complete of three sixes and a few fours within the twelfth and thirteenth over to get South Africa again within the sport, whereas van der Dussen performed the right second fiddle.
With 80 wanted off the final six. Miller introduced up his fifth T20 half-century.
India had the chance to interrupt the damaging partnership between Miller and van der Dussen however Shreyas was responsible of dropping the latter at deep midwicket on 29.
The drop value India dearly as van der Dussen pummelled Harshal to submission. The South African hit three sixes and a 4.
After that, it was a six-hitting fest as each the batters hit 5 maximums every.
Earlier, India have been off to a brilliant begin after being requested to bat. The hosts plundered 13 runs off the primary over with Kishan hitting back-to-back fours as Bavuma opted to open with spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Rectifying his mistake, Bavuma purchased tempo spearhead Kagiso Rabada into the assault, who restricted the scoring making a gift of two runs within the following over.
Kishan gave the impression to be battling Anrich Nortje’s tempo however alongside Rituraj Gaikwad (23) saved on stealing boundaries and sixes with ease on the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Gaikwad was dropped on 17 by Dwayne Pretorius in the beginning of the seventh over. However, the right-hander couldn’t capitalize on the reprieve as he was caught at midwicket by Bavuma off Wayne Parnell, who made a comeback to the South African facet for the primary time since 2017.
Kishan and new-man Shreyas Iyer (36) continued to attain runs at will as India raced to 100 runs in 9.4 overs.
The guests additionally appeared a tad sloppy on the sector, lacking catches and a stumping alternative.
Iyer then hit Tabraiz Shamsi for a few sixes over long-on.
Kishan introduced up his third T20 fifty in model as he whacked Maharaj for a six-over dip midwicket. In the groove, he then took the spinner to the cleaners in his subsequent over launching the ball for back-to-back sixes earlier than hitting two fours.
However, Maharaj lastly redeemed himself as Ishan hit the size ball straight within the arms of David Miller at vast long-on. Iyer too departed quickly after.
Captain Pant and his deputy Pandya, who returned to the facet after main his facet Gujarat Titans to the IPL title, then hit a flurry of fours and sixes to supply the ultimate flourish.
Source: www.financialexpress.com