T20 World Cup 2021 | Great to see David Miller come good at the right time, says Temba Bavuma as South Africa clinch thriller

In Match 25 of the T20 World Cup 2021, South Africa opted to bowl first and Anrich Nortje started off well for his side by dismissing Kusal Perera (7) in the fourth over. However, Charith Asalanka (21), who 🥃walked out to bat at No.3, stitched up a 41-run partnership along with opener Pathum Nissanka before the former departed in the ninth over. After the dismissal of Asalanka, Sri L💫anka soon tumbled from 61/2 to 91/5.

However, Pathum Nissanka stood solid at one end and notched up a crucial knock of 72 off 58 balls with six fours and three sixes, as Sri Lanka were bundled out for 142 in the last﷽ over. World No.1 T20I bowler Tabraiz Shamsi, and pacer Dwaine Pretorius scalped three wickets each to help their side to restrict Sri Lanka below 🥀150.

In reply, Reeza Hendricks (11) and Quinton De Kock (12) fell t💃o Dushmantha Chameera in the fourth over, before Rassie van der Dussen (16) fell to Dasun Shanaka's fielding brilliance. Wanindu Hasaranga ꧂claimed a hat-trick in the final stages, as the equation reduced to 15 required off 6.

Miller smashed two ▨successive sixes off Lahiru Kumara in the final over, and Rabada edged the fifth ball of the over to the boundary, which sealed South Africa's second win in the Su🍷per 12s stage.

South Africa c𒀰aptain Temba Bavuma, who himself had anchored the chase with run-a-ball 46, lauded Miller for his match-winning knock, and heape🎀d praise on Shamsi for his brilliant bowling performance. 

"It's har🌱d to keep everything at the back of my mind, and we had a job to do. We took it deep and it was a good thing that we managed to get over the line. David hasn't done that for us in a while, and it's 🙈great that he came good at the right time. Shamsi is a good player for us, he's been effective all over the world in this format and he's been doing this for quite a while now. I took on the responsibility to soak the pressure. The shot was on, but I am a bit annoyed that I couldn't execute it well enough," said Bavuma after the match.

Shamsi, who was adju🏅dg💛ed Player of the Match for his 3/17 from four overs, was delighted with the effort.

"My first Man of the Match trophy in the World Cup, so it's a special moment, but not to take anything away from Nortje, Markram, Miller and Rabada, they played their parts really well. I haven't had a great number of chances previously, but I kept working hard, was looking to do something special, try and win games for the country. T💯he number one rank doesn't really matter for me,  I'm just glad that I am bowling well, we have one of the finest bowling attacks in the world and I'm just happy to be part of it," said Shamsi.

South Africa will next face Bangladesh on Tuesday, Nove♍mber 2 in Abu Dhabi.