David Miller top-scored with 63 for the Proteas in their emphatic victory over India in the ICC T20 World Cup Super Eights clash in Ahmedabad.
Image: AFP
David Miller’s biggest takeaway from the Proteas’ emphatic 76-run victory over India was that “they are beatable”.
The co-hosts and defending champions had an aura of invincibility about them, having won 17 straight games and two championships in major ICC tournaments, prior to Sunday’s humbling defeat to the Proteas in Ahmedabad. That’s 826 days without losing.
But the Proteas broke that sequence in emphatic fashion with Miller (63) top-scoring before the bowlers completed a demolition job on India’s much-vaunted batting order.
“It wasn't easy. Playing against India is always really difficult and they've got some incredible players.” Miller said.
“But we’ve played a lot against them and with them as well for the IPL and when it's two big teams like that it's about making sure that you do the simple things for a longer period of time. When the pressure does come, you kind of absorb it, and get through that.
“It takes a team effort, so scoring 187, I think we got. I thought it was a fair total. I thought we were pushing for 200 plus, but then getting three wickets in the Powerplay with our bowlers. The guys bowled phenomenally well and backed it up with good fielding, so I really thought it was an all-around great performance that put them under pressure. It was good to get it over them. They are beatable.”
The emphatic victory has set up the Proteas’ in prime position to qualify for the semi-finals with two Super Eights matches remaining against West Indies (Thursday) and Zimbabwe (Sunday).
The Proteas not only head Group 1 with two points, but their net run-rate has skyrocketed to 3.80, which could mean that they require just one victory from their two clashes to progress to the knockout stage.
Miller, though, preferred not to look too far ahead as the road ahead to final remains a long one.
“I think for us in a tournament like this, it's about making sure that we do, as I said, I keep going back to the simple things and making sure that we stay in our lane as a player and do the job and get the job done,” the veteran said.
“We're a mature team. A lot of guys have played together and a lot of cricket for South Africa and that goes a long way under pressure. So, I think it's just staying in your lane, making sure that you get the job done and keep wanting more.”