It was all killer Miller show in South African innings. Barring Deepak Chahar, David Miller didn’t spare any Indian bowler. In his unbeaten 106 run innings, Miller hit 7 sixes and 8 fours with strike rate of 200.
It was all raining sixes and boundaries on Sunday evening in Guwahati. India was narrowly able to defend the runs in the high-scoring match. batting first, India scored 237 thanks to Rahul, Suryakumar’s blistering 50s, good support from Kohli and captain Sharma and the brilliant finish by Karthik.
In reply, Proteas had a shaky start. After playing the first-over maiden, they lost two batters in the next over leaving them in not so good situation. Markram tried to increase run flow but got out soon.
Then the experienced duo of Miller and De Kock held the inning but their unbeaten 174 runs partnership went in vain as they fell short of 16 runs.
Miller scored a brilliant unbeaten century while De Kock scored 68*.
India’s Innings
India lost the toss and Bavuma invited them to bat first
KL Rahul started showing his intent in the very first over hitting the boundary at the very first ball. He soon reached 25 in 11 deliveries. Rohit on the other side took time to settle and didn’t hurry up. Sharma departed on 43 runs in 37 deliveries. Rahul made 58 off 27 balls.
Once both the openers were back in to pavilion, it was all Suryakumar Yadav’s show. What SKY did to bowlers was something now we are getting used to. He toyed with all the experienced pace attacks.
There wasn’t any area where he didn’t play his shots. Third man, short third man, fine leg or simply into the V, SKY was just flawless. He scored the joint second fastest 50 for Team India in 18 balls. SKY departed on 61 off just 22 balls. Kohli accelerated in the finals overs and contributed with the 49* off 28. In the final over, it was a finishing show of designated finisher Dinesh Karthik. He hit the visitor’s spearhead Kagiso Rabada for a boundary and a couple of sixes off the last over.
India gave the target of 238 in the 20 overs.
The selfless moment was also seen when Kohli asked Karthik to carry on hitting and not think about his 50.
South Africa Innings
South Africa didn’t get the ideal start that was needed to chase a mammoth 237 runs score. The proteas lost skipper Bavuma and Rossouw in the second over. South Africa was 1 for 2 soon. Markram tried to stabilize the inning and scored hit some beautiful strokes but was clean bowled by Axar Patel at the score of 33.
The veterans David Miller and De Kock were on the crease now and they started coming into the groove slowly. Soon both were settled and started to score more freely. The hitting was so good that India wasn’t able to take another wicket and both added an unbeaten 174 runs together.
The “Killer Miller” Show
It was all killer Miller’s show in South African innings. Barring Deepak Chahar, David Miller didn’t spare any Indian bowler. In his unbeaten 106-run innings, Miller hit 7 sixes and 8 fours with a strike rate of 225.
De Kock gave him able support but was comparatively slow and the team needed him to be a little quicker. De Kock scored 69* off 48 as the second fiddle.
Arshdeep got two wickets in the first over but it all went against him after that. Once again, an Indian bowler faced the wrath of 19 the over going over for more than 20 runs in the 19th.
After the match finished, De Kock congratulated his partner and apologized for not being able to pace up.
KL Rahul was declared Player Of the Match.
Few records
- Suryakumar joined KL Rahul to score second fastest 50 for team India in t20is.
- 174* run partnership between miller and De Kock is highest ever in cricket history for fourth wicket it below.
- Suryakumar Yadav took just 573 balls to reach 1000 runs in his t20i career, which is the fastest by in cricket history.
