PERTH: A brilliant knock from David Miller has taken his side home in the very last over against India at Perth at T20 World Cup.
South Africa has replaced India and climbed to the top spot in the points table. The Temba Bavuma-led side has 2 wins from 3 matches. Their match against Zimbabwe was washed out during SA’s chase. India has 2 wins from 3 matches. They have one defeat – against SA. India’s defeat has made the road difficult for Pakistan.
South Africa was in deep trouble chasing a target of 134. They lost three in no time earlier on. Miller and Markram then steadied the ship but the task was still a stiff one. They needed over 9 per over heading into the last 10 and after the break, they stepped on the gas.
Markram took the attack to the bowlers and Miller was happy to play second fiddle. They managed to find boundaries and the partnership between the two flourished. They added over 70 in no time and took their side to the brink of victory. It came a lot closer than they would have liked as they lost Markram and Stubbs in quick succession, but Miller kept his cool and took his side over the line. Miller finished the game with 59 off 46 balls.
Earlier, South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi led a fiery pace onslaught to keep India to 133-9 despite an attacking half-century by Suryakumar Yadav.
India won the toss and chose to bat in their bid for a third straight win but the South African quicks made life difficult on a fast and bouncy Perth pitch.
Yadav’s 40-ball 68, laced with six fours and three sixes, helped India recover from 49-5.
Ngidi returned figures of 4-29 off his four overs, ably supported by fellow fast bowler Wayne Parnell who finished with 3-15 after starting the innings with a T20 rarity – a maiden over.
Unable to handle the extra bounce on the Perth track, the Indians lost half their side for 49 inside nine overs.
Kagiso Rabada took a stunning catch at long leg to see the back of danger man Hardik Pandya for Ngidi’s fourth wicket.
Yadav hit back with a couple of sixes as he rebuilt the innings with Dinesh Karthik.
The in-form Yadav, who hit an unbeaten 51 against the Netherlands in their previous win, even smashed Ngidi for a huge six over fine leg to bring alive the fans. He then reached his fifty off 30 balls with another four.
Karthik tried to join the attack but fell to Parnell, who broke the stand which had been worth 52 and the same bowler finally dismissed Yadav for 68 in the 19th over.
