David Miller Becomes First South Africa Player To Achieve This Big World Cup Feat | Cricket News

South African middle-order batter David Miller made historical past on Thursday, smashing the first-ever century by a Proteas batter in an ICC Cricket World Cup knockout match. Miller completed this milestone in the course of the semifinal match of the ICC Cricket World Cup in opposition to Australia at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. Miller walked in at 24/4 and smashed a memorable century regardless of all odds. He scored 101 runs in 116 balls. His knock consisted of eight fours and 5 sixes. His runs got here at a strike price of over 87.

This has overtaken Faf Du Plessis’s 82-run knock in opposition to New Zealand within the 2015 Cricket World Cup semifinal as the perfect rating by a South African in WC knockouts.

Miller’s century can also be solely the third century by a South African in an ICC occasion knockout match. Earlier, Herschelle Gibbs had made 116* in opposition to India within the semifinal of the ICC Champions Trophy 2002. Jacques Kallis additionally made 113* in opposition to Sri Lanka within the semifinal of the 1998 Champions Trophy.

Miller has additionally overtaken Kallis to turn into Proteas’ second-highest six-hitter in ODI cricket, with 138 sixes. Kallis had hit 137 sixes in his ODI profession. The highest ODI sixes by a South African batter are by AB de Villiers, who has 200 sixes within the 50-over format.

Besides Glenn Maxwell (three centuries), Miller is the one batter who comes at quantity 5 or beneath to have two or extra World Cup tons. Miller has scored two centuries in his World Cup profession.

In 10 matches of this World Cup, Miller has scored 356 runs at a median of 44.50. He has ended unbeaten twice. Miller has scored a century and a fifty within the match, with the perfect rating of 101 and a strike price of over 107.

Coming to the match, Proteas opted to bat first. After being decreased to 24/4, a 95-run partnership between Heinrich Klaasen (47 in 48 balls, with 4 boundaries and two sixes) and Miller helped Proteas get well. A half-century between Miller and Gerald Coetzee (19) was additionally very important in taking Proteas close to the 200-run mark. SA was bundled out for 212 in 49.4 overs.

Mitchell Starc (3/34) and skipper Pat Cummins (3/51) have been the highest wicket-takers for Australia. Josh Hazlewood (2/12) and Travis Head (2/21) additionally bowled effectively for Aussies.

Aussies want 213 to succeed in the ultimate, the place they may play India.