South
Africa fell agonisingly short of chasing India’s mammoth total of 237, amassing
221 and ended up losing by 15 runs in the second T20 encounter of the three-match series
at Dr Bhupen Hazarika stadium in Baraspara, Guwahati, Assam.
David
Miller’s scintillating 106 of 46 balls and Quinton De Kock’s responsible 69(48)
meant brought South Africa realistically within range of a fairy-tale victory
against India. However, with Deepak Chahar having just finished a brilliant and
arguably match winning spell of 0/24 (4) and requiring 73 of the last three
overs, the resilient South Africans were unfortunately fighting a lost cause. With the win, India clinched the 3-match series with a game to spare.
On the
brighter side however, there was much to be gained on statistical terms for the visitors. Miller
with his late blitzkrieg not only scored his second international T20 century
but in the process also became the highest scoring South African Batsman in
International T20 matches. By ending up at 1942 international runs in the
shortest format, Miller eclipsed J P Duminy’s record of 1934 which had
previously placed him atop the list of leading run getters for the proteas in
T20. De Cock who held the Second position thus far, extraordinarily fell to third
despite a creditable 69. As things stand, the top 3 positions atop the list are
all currently held by South African south paws followed by right handers AB de Villiers and Faf Du Plessis on fourth and fifth. The statistical details are
mentioned below.
Most runs for SA in T20Is
1942 D Miller *
1934 JP Duminy
1918 Q de Kock *
1672 AB de Villiers
1466 Faf du Plessis
also read: ‘Selfless’ Kohli unbeaten at 49, asks Karthik to keep strike vs SA
Earlier in the day, Openers KL Rahul(
57/28) and Rohit Sharma(43/37) built in a firm foundation before Surya Kumar
Yadav blasted a Herculean 61 off 22 well supported by Kohli’s appreciable 49
off 28. As things stood, the consistent scoring of the Indian batters set the
bar too high for even a brutish Miller at his thunderous best, to get the
better off.
