The Proteas secured victory in a dramatic opening T20I of their series against India with New Dehi playing host.
Temba Bavuma won the toss and put India in to bat and saw his bowlers put to the sword.
India blazed away to 211 for 4 in their 20 overs leaving the Proteas chasing a record score to win.
David Miller fires Proteas to victory
At one point during the chase the required rate shot out to over 14 runs to the over but ultimately Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller came together to fire the Proteas to victory.
It was Miller who lit the fuse for South Africa, with van der Dusse initially playing a supporting role.
However, towards the death it was van der Dussen who took the game by the scruff of the neck.
Van der Dussen survived a late review off the bowling of Harshal Patel by the skin of his teeth with an umpire’s call on impact saving him.
He went on to hit the winning runs off the first ball of the final over.
Van der Dussen had earlier been dropped and was also nearly run out in the penultimate over but the Proteas luck was in.
Rassie van der Dussen does his bit
Van der Dussen credited Miller’s experience with carrying them through but he would strike 75 not out.
Speaking after the match, van der Dussen said: “It’s sticky in the middle but Miller was so good. It wasn’t through lack of intent. I was clear in my mind.. Sometimes it doesn’t come off but staying mentally tough is important. Avesh Khan put me under a lot of pressure and didn’t miss his mark at all. But Miller pulled me through with his knock. It’s a gameplan that has worked for me in the last few years. I feel like if i can play 40-50 balls, I can have an impact and luckily it happened today. It’s a lesson to Pretorius – if it was in his arc he had to go for it. We knew it was a fast-scoring ground since we played a warm-up game a couple of days ago. Strangest things make a difference and feels like it (change of bat helped).”
ESPN Cricinfo
