T20 World Cup 2022: David Miller and Aiden Markram hit fifties as South Africa held their nerve to gun down a 134-run target in a last-over thriller in Perth. Suryakumar Yadav’s 68 went in vain as South Africa moved to the top of Super 12 Group 2 table.

Suryakumar Yadav hit a 40-ball 68 on a difficult pitch in Perth (AP Photo)

By Akshay Ramesh: India, barring Suryakumar Yadav, failed the trial by pace against South Africa in Perth to succumb to their first loss of T20 World Cup 2022. Suryakumar Yadav hit a stunning 68 off 40 deliveries but it was not enough as the total of 133 was never going to be enough against a power-packed South African side on Sunday, October 30.

South Africa chased down the total with two balls and 5 wickets to spare, despite a valiant effort from the Indian pacers in the first half of the defence went in vain. David Miller and Aiden Markram switched gears after the drinks break as South Africa recovered from 40 for 3 to power through to the target comfortably. It was a calculated assault from Markram and Miller, who added 76 runs for the 4th wicket after joining hands at 24 for 3.

T20 World Cup 2022: Full Coverage

Aiden Markram hit 6 boundaries and a six for his 41-ball 52 as he took on the onus to push the scoring rate while David Miller held his composure and stayed unbeaten on 56 to take the Proteas past the finish line. Miller was 5 of his first 15 balls but the senior campaigner, who has made a habit of finishing games for South Africa and Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League, did not press the panic button. In the end, Miller got to his fifty in just 40 balls after taking the attack to off-spinner R Ashwin, winning the game of match-ups against India.

Both Markram and Miller ran hard between the wickets and they put so much pressure on the Indian fielders that even the best in the Indian camp made mistakes on the field. The mistakes turned out to be costly as Virat Kohli dropped a sitter to hand Aiden Markram a reprieve off 35 in the 12th over. In the following over, Rohit Sharma missed an easy opportunity to run out Markram, who had given up after Miller called for a quick single.

Mohammed Shami delivered a stunning penultimate over, keeping the pressure on South Africa. The match went down to the final over but David Miller looked assured and got the job done, remaining unbeaten in 56 as he hit the winning runs in the 4th delivery, breaking India’s hearts.