Miller, Duminy propel SA to 339
14 Feb 2015
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On a supposedly sluggish, two-paced wicket at Seddon Park in Hamilton, even as Zimbabwe's medium pacers chipped away at the mighty South African top order, the gulf of class between the two teams shone through via a mammoth unbeaten 256-run stand between JP Duminy and David Miller that propelled South Africa to 339/4. En-route their record breaking fifth wicket partnership, David Miller scored a 92-ball 138 with the experienced Duminy adding an equally classy, if not obviously brutal, 115.
Coming together in the 21st over at an unforeseen 83/4, the two left-handers took their time in getting their eye in before highlighting Zimbabwe's inexperience in bowling at quality opposition by plundering 96 runs in the final five overs. By the time the death overs came along, Miller and Duminy were picking gaps in the field for fun. The transformation was complete in the 48th over when Miller smashed a Solomon Mire over for 30 runs.
With the exception of Tafadzwa Kamungozi and Sean Williams, Zimbabwe's bowlers succumbed to the Miller-Duminy show by repeatedly erring in their lengths. Such was the brutality of Miller's hitting that of the 9 sixes he hit, two of them merited a ball change. Duminy on the other hand was content on turning the strike over and picking the occasional boundary. The writing for Zimbabwe was on the wall the moment the duo completed their respective fifties.
The score however does not paint the complete picture. Zimbabwe actually started off the better side. After inserting their African neighbours in to bat, Zimbabwe's captain Elton Chigumbura reckoned that the pitch appeared slow, an observation seconded by his opposite number, AB de Villiers. The slowness of the wicket was in evidence as early as the second ball of the South African innings when Quinton de Kock, having gotten into position early, was forced to check his shot.
To their credit, Zimbabwe's new ball bowlers Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara exploited the slow conditions well. They maintained a wicket to wicket line were ably assisted by skipper Chigumbura's awareness of the pitch conditions which resulted in the second slip moving to short-cover and instantly effecting the dismissal of de Kock. Amla, who started with a trademark flick to a delivery pitched on the fifth stump line, soon played on to reduce South Africa to 21/2 in the 9th over.
Notwithstanding the nature of the wicket, AB de Villiers (25) and Faf du Plessis (24) decided to counter attack the medium pacers by using their feet against them. The duo staged a mini-recovery and even pushed the run-rate above four for the first time before du Plessis was caught down the leg-side off Chigumbura. Leg spinner Kamungozi then got the big fish de Villiers in his first over thanks to a stunning catch near the boundary by Craig Ervine. That was to be Zimbabwe's final celebration in the innings as Duminy and Miller took over.
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