JOHANNESBURG – Stand-in captain David Miller hit an explosive half-century as South Africa made a strong finish to their innings in the second Twenty20 international against Pakistan at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
Miller slammed 65 not out off 29 balls to enable South Africa to post 188/3 in their 20 overs.
Captaining the Proteas for the first time because Faf du Plessis was rested for the last two matches of the series, Miller went on the rampage in the closing overs after South Africa made a relatively sedate start on an unusually slow, dry Wanderers pitch.
Miller hit five sixes and four fours as South Africa scored 127 runs in the last 10 overs of an innings, which was interrupted for half an hour by a rain shower.
The break came with the Proteas on 140/3 after 17.1 overs, and they added 48 runs off the remaining 17 balls of the innings.
New cap Janneman Malan and Reeza Hendricks put on 58 for the first wicket, but used up 53 balls.
Left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, who opened the bowling, took 1/9 in four overs.
He bowled a maiden to Malan, and had the newcomer stumped after an otherwise promising innings of 33 off 31 balls.
Rassie van der Dussen hit four sixes in a quick-fire innings of 45 off 27 balls to lift the scoring rate, before Miller finished the innings with some ferocious hitting.
Left-arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari, whose first two balls were hit for six by Malan, conceded 63 runs off his four overs.
Superb effort from the stand-in skipper, David Miller! 65 off 29 balls (4x4s; 5x6s) to help the Standard Bank Proteas to 188/3 after 20 overs. A captain’s knock! 👏
Pakistan need 189 to win. #KFCT20 #ProteaFire #SAvPAK pic.twitter.com/Z9vVlDyUWW
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) February 3, 2019