David Miller walked in at 24/4 and smashed a memorable century regardless of all odds.© AFP
South African middle-order batter David Miller made historical past on Thursday, smashing the first-ever century by a Proteas batter in an ICC Cricket World Cup knockout match. Miller achieved this milestone through the semifinal match of the ICC Cricket World Cup in opposition to Australia at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. Miller walked in at 24/4 and smashed a memorable century regardless of all odds. He scored 101 runs in 116 balls. His knock consisted of eight fours and 5 sixes. His runs got here at a strike price of over 87.
This has overtaken Faf Du Plessis’s 82-run knock in opposition to New Zealand within the 2015 Cricket World Cup semifinal as the very best rating by a South African in WC knockouts.
Miller’s century can be solely the third century by a South African in an ICC occasion knockout match. Earlier, Herschelle Gibbs had made 116* in opposition to India within the semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2002. Jacques Kallis additionally made 113* in opposition to Sri Lanka within the semifinal of the 1998 Champions Trophy.
Miller has additionally overtaken Kallis to grow to be Proteas’ second-highest six-hitter in ODI cricket, with 138 sixes. Kallis had hit 137 sixes in his ODI profession. The very best ODI sixes by a South African batter are by AB de Villiers, who has 200 sixes within the 50-over format.
Apart from Glenn Maxwell (three centuries), Miller is the one batter who comes at quantity 5 or under to have two or extra World Cup tons. Miller has scored two centuries in his World Cup profession.
In 10 matches of this World Cup, Miller has scored 356 runs at a mean of 44.50. He has ended unbeaten twice. Miller has scored a century and a fifty within the match, with the very best rating of 101 and a strike price of over 107.
Coming to the match, Proteas opted to bat first. After being diminished to 24/4, a 95-run partnership between Heinrich Klaasen (47 in 48 balls, with 4 boundaries and two sixes) and Miller helped Proteas get well. A half-century between Miller and Gerald Coetzee (19) was additionally very important in taking Proteas close to the 200-run mark. SA was bundled out for 212 in 49.4 overs.
Mitchell Starc (3/34) and skipper Pat Cummins (3/51) have been the highest wicket-takers for Australia. Josh Hazlewood (2/12) and Travis Head (2/21) additionally bowled nicely for Aussies.
Aussies want 213 to succeed in the ultimate, the place they’ll play India.
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