DAVID MILLER and Andile Phehlukwayo each performed the innings of their lives to get the Customary Financial institution Proteas throughout the road for a four-wicket win over Australia with four balls to spare at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Wednesday night to clinch the Momentum ODI Collection by a Three-Zero margin with two matches nonetheless to be performed.
Miller made the third century of his ODI profession (118 not out, 79 balls, 10 fours and 6 sixes) whereas Phehlukwayo made a profession greatest 42 not out (39 balls, four fours and a pair of sixes) as they shared a South African seventh-wicket report partnership in opposition to Australia of 107 runs, beating the earlier better of 87 shared by legends Lance Klusener and Mark Boucher.
The goal of 372 had appeared a distant dream when the pair got here along with 107 nonetheless wanted off the remaining 74 balls. There was additionally the truth that Miller, after reaching 24 off his first 26 balls, suffered an obvious groin damage that severely incapacitated his means to run shortly between the wickets.
However the pair refused to let this or anything get them down they usually achieved a successful rating that was greater than 100 runs higher than the earlier greatest.
Miller guided Phehlukwayo by means of the primary a part of his innings earlier than the 20-year-old began to supply energy hitting to match his much more skilled accomplice. It has been a beautiful begin to the teenager’s profession as he took four/44 within the first ODI in opposition to Australia after which adopted it with this batting effort. He was additionally one of many higher South African bowlers on the day.
It’s simply as properly that the Proteas have wrapped up the sequence this early as their damage listing is continuous to rise. Earlier than the sequence began they misplaced AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel and Chris Morris and earlier than the beginning of right now’s recreation Wayne Parnell was additionally dominated out of the remainder of the sequence with a rib damage he suffered on the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium.
And whether or not Miller will be capable of play the remaining two matches stays to be seen.
You needed to really feel genuinely sorry for Australia and notably for the way in which their high three batsmen arrange their whole which appeared defendable. David Warner (117 off 107 balls, 13 fours and a pair of sixes) and Steve Smith (108 off 107 balls, 9 fours and a six) each scored centuries as Australia had successive partnerships of 110 and 124 to make their whole potential.
There was additionally a major mixed contribution from Smith, Travis Head and Matthew Wade in direction of the top of the Australian innings as they smashed 71 between them off the final 34 balls.
The Proteas new ball assault of Dale Steyn (2/96) and Kagiso Rabada (1/86) took an actual pasting, conceding 18 of the 31 fours and seven of the 10 sixes within the Australian innings. The spinners and back-up seamers managed to drag the sport again after Warner and Aaron Finch had placed on 88 runs within the energy play and 110 in a gap stand that lasted 13.1 overs.
It was a powerful recreation of cricket performed on a very good pitch and outfield.
It represents the Proteas first win in a bilateral sequence in opposition to Australia since 2009 though they did win a triangular sequence in opposition to Australia in Zimbabwe simply over two years in the past.
It went with out saying that Miller was named Man of the Match. The outcome will transfer them considerably up the ICC ODI rankings from their present fourth place.
