David Miller hit an unbeaten half-century as South Africa beat Australia by three wickets in the first Twenty20 international at Kingsmead on Friday.
Miller hit 53 not out off 35 balls to enable South Africa to overhaul Australia’s total of 157-9 with four balls to spare.
The hosts were in trouble at 95-6, but the left-handed Miller, playing on his home ground, steered them to victory with sensible batting interspersed with some powerful hits.
Photo: AP
The key over was the 16th, which started with South Africa needing 45 runs off 30 balls. Miller hit two big sixes as Andrew Tye conceded 16 runs.
He hit an even bigger six off John Hastings in the 18th over, with the ball sailing out of the ground over square-leg, as the target shrunk rapidly.
Australia made a fast start after winning the toss, racing to 69-1 in the six-over power play, with Aaron Finch pounding 40 off 27 balls.
He hit four sixes, three of them off the first three balls bowled by off-spinner J.P. Duminy, who was surprisingly brought on during the power play.
However, the tourists lost their way against the medium-pace of David Wiese (2-16) and the leg-spin of Imran Tahir (3-21), slumping to 114-7.
Mitchell Marsh gave the innings late impetus, hitting 35 off 25 balls.
South Africa made a bad start, losing A.B. de Villiers to the first ball.
They slipped to 41-3 before captain Faf du Plessis (40) and Rilee Rossouw (19) put on 31 for the fourth wicket.
They were out of successive deliveries before man of the match Miller took charge.
“He played a gem of an innings,” said Australian captain Steve Smith, who said Australia had put in a good performance in the field before Miller took the game away from them.
“Once again we won a game we probably shouldn’t have won,” said Du Plessis, who said South Africa had started badly with both ball and bat. “But to win games like that makes me very happy. It shows a lot of character.”
The three-match series is the last chance for both teams to decide on their combinations ahead of the World Twenty20 in India later this month.
Australia included two players making their Twenty20 international debuts — wicketkeeper Peter Nevill and leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
South Africa surprisingly did not include fast bowler Dale Steyn, who was declared fit again after being out of action for more than two months with a shoulder injury.
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