David Miller carried on his sensational IPL form in international cricket as South Africa mocked the Indian bowling attack for their highest run-chases and finish the race to a seven-wicket victory in the opening T20I here on Thursday.
Rope
Dusan (71 not out on 45) and Miller (64 not out on 31) shared an unbeaten 131 on the chase of 212 runs with ridiculous ease with five balls to spare.
India had scored a superb score of 211 runs for four wickets with the help of Ishan Kishan (76 runs in 48 balls).
Rishabh Pant (29 off 16) and Hardik Pandya (31 off 12).
However, this did not mean that the Indians were outnumbered by the talents of Miller and van der Dussen, who played with the opposition attack. The defeat also ended India’s 12-match winning streak.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma (10) and Quinton de Kock (22) scored 22/0 in the first two overs. However, the always dependable Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a brilliant leg-cutter to dismiss Bavuma.
Dwayne Pretorius (29 off 13) and de Kock cleaned up leg-spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik.
While Chahal conceded 16, Hardik, whose return to bowling was much-awaited ahead of the series, scored 18 and was slammed for three sixes by Pretorius, including one that was 91m tall.
Harshal Patel broke the partnership in the end as he dodged Pretorius with a slow full toss.
The Indian bowlers continued to strike at regular intervals and limit the boundaries, which slowed down the proceedings. But ‘Killer Miller’ had different ideas.
Continuing his stellar run from the IPL, Southpaw hit a total of three sixes and two fours in the 12th and 13th overs to bring South Africa back into the game, while van der Dussen played the perfect second.
80 runs were needed in the last six. Miller completed his fifth T20I half-century.
India had an opportunity to break the dangerous partnership between Miller and van der Dussen but were guilty of dropping Shreyas for 29 runs at deep midwicket.
The drop cost India as van der Dussen overtook Herschel for the submission. South Africa hit three sixes and a four.
After that, it was a six-hitting fest as both the batsmen hit five sixes each.
Earlier, India got off to a great start after being called to bat. The hosts conceded 13 runs in the first over with Kishan hitting back-to-back boundaries as Bavuma opted to open with spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Correcting his mistake, Bavuma bought pacer Kagiso Rabada into the attack, who restricted the scoring for two runs in the next over.
It looked like Kishan was struggling with Enrique Nortje’s pace but Arun Jaitley along with Rituraj Gaikwad (23) kept on stealing fours and sixes with ease at the stadium.
Gaikwad was dismissed for 17 by Dwayne Pretorius at the start of the seventh over. However, the right-hander could not take advantage of the relief as he was caught at midwicket by Bavuma off Wayne Parnell, who made his return to the South African side for the first time since 2017.
Kishan and newcomer Shreyas Iyer (36) continued to score at will as India posted 100 runs in 9.4 overs.
The spectators also had a sloppy look at the ground, missed catches and a stumping opportunity.
After this, Iyer hit Tabrez Shamsi for two sixes at long on.
Kishan brought up his third T20I half-century in style as he hit Maharaj for a six-over dip to midwicket. Then in the groove, he took the spinner to the cleaners in his next over and launched the ball for back-to-back sixes before hitting two boundaries.
However, Maharaj finally released himself as Ishaan hit a straight length ball into the hands of David Miller at wide long-on. Iyer also left soon after.
Captain Pant and his deputy Pandya, who returned to the team after leading Gujarat Titans to the IPL title, then hit a flurry of fours and sixes to provide the final flourish.