David Miller delivered a scintillating performance in South Africa’s T20I series opener against Pakistan on December 10, smashing a breathtaking 82 off 40 balls. His explosive innings at Durban’s Kingsmead turned the tide in favour of the Proteas by some extent, after an early top-order collapse.
South Africa, fielding a second-choice side led by stand-in skipper Heinrich Klaasen in Aiden Markram’s absence, struggled initially after opting to bat first. Reeza Hendricks managed just 8 runs, Matthew Breetzke fell for a duck, and Rassie van der Dussen failed to make an impact, leaving the hosts in a precarious position. The situation worsened when Klaasen departed for 12 after being dismissed by Abbas Afridi. At 56/4, the Proteas looked in trouble.
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Miller, however, came to the rescue with a sensational counter-attack. From the moment he walked in, he dominated the Pakistan bowlers with an array of powerful strokes, electrifying the Durban crowd. The standout moment of his innings came against leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, whom Miller hammered for 21 runs in a single over, including three consecutive sixes. His ability to find the boundary with ease and rotate the strike ensured that South Africa regained momentum despite their early setbacks.
Miller’s knock, laced with boundaries and towering sixes, seemed destined for a century. However, his remarkable innings came to an end in the 14th over when Shaheen Afridi trapped him with a well-executed delivery. By the time Miller was dismissed, he had set an imposing platform for South Africa, helping them recover from a shaky start.
