Miller mania!
SA STAR SETS RECORD WITH TON OFF 35 BALLS
Hapless bowlers smashed to all parts of the ground.
It’s not often a score of 85 in a T20 innings gets pretty much ignored but that was the fate that befell Hashim Amla yesterday. And it was all down to David Miller.
The Proteas left-hander smashed himself into the record books by recording the fastest hundred in a T20 international as the hosts whipped Bangladesh by 83 runs in Potchefstroom to clinch a 2-0 series win.
It means South Africa won all seven international matches across the three formats on this tour, a remarkable achievement.
But for about 45 minutes, everything was about Miller.
The 28-year-old was simply sensational as he galloped to an unbeaten 101 off just 36 deliveries, reaching his landmark off 35.
His effort shaved a full 10 balls off the previous world record – 45 balls by Richard Levi for South Africa against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2012.
In fact, the Proteas can now boast three of the fastest centuries in the international format.
As brilliant as Miller’s striking was, his record only became possible in the 19th over, when he struck poor 20-year-old Mohammed Saifuddin (2/53) for 31 runs.
Two leg-side flicks travelled over square leg, a slower ball was smashed over long-on and a full ball chipped over extra cover as the first five balls went for six.
He only missed out on becoming the second South African to hit six sixes in an over – Herschelle Gibbs achieved the feat in the 2007 World Cup against Netherlands – when he couldn’t hit a wide delivery outside off again.
Even more painful for Bangladesh was the fact that Miller was dropped on 0, when Mushfiqur Rahim couldn’t grab a gloved chance down the leg-side.
Seldom has a missed chance proved so costly.
Miller though was indebted to Amla for laying the platform.
The experienced bearded star steered South Africa’s ship brilliantly in the first half of the innings after Shakib al-Hasan’s leftarm spin (2/22) had them in some difficulty.
He stroked 11 fours and a six in an exemplary display that lasted 51 balls.
Despite opener Soumya Sarkar making 44 off 27, Bangladesh were never in the hunt as the spin of JP Duminy (2/23) and Aaron Phangiso (2/31) proved particularly effective.