The second T20 match between India and South Africa was played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday. Team India won the match against South Africa by 16 runs to clinch the three-match T20 series 2-0.
South Africa batsman David Miller believes the series loss to India will not make them less of a force in the next T20 World Cup, citing Australia’s title triumph in the previous edition despite leading up to the big event. Australia entered the World Cup after five back-to-back series defeats in the format.
Australia Not Doing Well Before The World Cup – David Miller
“There’re a lot of stories in the past with one being Australia not doing too well before the World Cup, and then they end up winning the World Cup. So I don’t think it’s too much to worry about. We’ve built up a really good squad over the last year and a half. We get on really well with each other. We’ve linked in nicely, great partnerships. We’ve won a lot of series last year,” Miller told reporters at the post-match interaction.
“To have lost the series tonight was obviously very disappointing, but in the past we’ve really competed well and at least we can walk away with our heads held high, but it is still disappointing losing the series.”
The team led by Temba Bavuma failed to chase the target and the skipper was dismissed without scoring for the second time. Rilee Rossouw also got out as a duck. Miller counter-attacked with an unbeaten 106 runs off 47 balls and Quinton de Kock scored 69 runs off 48 balls.
Don’t Want To Be Too Harsh On The Bowlers – David Miller
“We didn’t bat well the previous game. We didn’t start this game too well, but we managed to get a really good partnership and put on a competitive game at the end of it. There were over 400 runs in the game, I don’t want to be too harsh on the bowlers, but I think that there was a little bit of lack of execution at times, ” he said.
“But they were really good in the previous game — extremely good. A few areas that we can work on still leading up to the World Cup, so we still have time. It is tough coming here as an opposition to play in Indian conditions with the crowd behind India the way they are. They are very loud. You can use that to your advantage as well. Just enjoy the atmosphere. You don’t get this kind of atmosphere anywhere in the world, “Miller had a special mention for the packed Barsapara Stadium.
Play was interrupted twice, first by a snake on the field, and then by one of the floodlights went off during South Africa’s innings.
“You know, that’s out of our control, and it kind of just gave us a bit of time to just process what actually happened in the power play — the first couple of overs. It gave us a little bit of time to chat about it and think about the way forward. And then, there was the issue with the snake as well. So, I mean, there was a lot going on today.”
Also read: IND vs SA: Virat Kohli Becomes First Indian Batsman To Complete 11,000 Runs In T20 History
