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Deja Vu Moment: Pandya-Miller Duel Recalls T20 World Cup Final

Deja Vu Moment: Pandya-Miller Duel Recalls T20 World Cup Final

In a thrilling moment of deja vu, South African star batter David Miller's dismissal by Hardik Pandya during the 3rd T20I between India and South Africa on Wednesday evoked memories of the 2024 T20 World Cup final.Miller, attempting to pull a short delivery from Pandya in the 16th over, was caught spectacularly by Axar Patel at the boundary. This catch mirrored the iconic moment in the World Cup final where Miller was dismissed by Suryakumar Yadav in a similar fashion, sealing India's victory by seven runs.Pandya's bowling and fielding unit once again proved their mettle, with Axar's athleticism making up for an earlier dropped catch. His effort not only dismissed Miller but also curbed South Africa's scoring momentum.Pandya's impact as a game-changer shone through yet again as India won by a narrow margin of 11 runs, successfully defending their 219-run total. This win strengthened India's momentum on tour, giving them a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.The Men in Blue will take on the Proteas for the fourth and final T20I on Friday at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, aiming to seal the series victory.

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David Miller's Spin Struggles Cost South Africa in T20I Loss

David Miller's Spin Struggles Cost South Africa in T20I Loss

Former South African wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher has expressed concern over David Miller's struggles against spin bowling, which contributed to the Proteas' 61-run defeat to India in the first T20I. Boucher also highlighted the South African bowlers' inability to exploit the pitch conditions.During the middle overs, Miller and Heinrich Klaasen struggled to find boundaries while chasing a 203-run target. Both batters were dismissed in the same over by Varun Chakravarthy, dealing a significant blow to their team's chances.Boucher particularly highlighted the 11th over bowled by Ravi Bishnoi, where Miller played five consecutive dot balls before finally managing a single. "David Miller wasn't picking a thing at all. I mean, there's one over there where I think he missed four out of the six deliveries he faced. So yeah, he was bowled really well tonight, and it just goes to show two quality spinners. There was something there for the bowlers on that wicket. Something that South African bowlers could not exploit," Boucher said.In the subsequent over, Klaasen hit a six on the second delivery. However, Chakravarthy soon had Klaasen caught at long-on and then dismissed Miller for 18, who mistimed a shot to deep square leg.Boucher further pointed out how Bishnoi cleverly used his seam to extract help from the surface. "I was watching a couple of his (Ravi Bishnoi) balls come out a little bit different and I think what he did really well tonight, especially in the dark, is he changed the seam up. Sometimes you look at the ball, especially as a wicket-keeper as well. You look at the ball and see if you can see it spinning different ways. But he muddled his seam up very nicely," he added.In the match, India batted first and posted a challenging 202/8, thanks to Sanju Samson's blitz. South Africa's bowlers struggled to contain the Indian batters, with Gerald Coetzee being the only exception with three wickets.In the run chase, South Africa's batters failed to put up a decent performance. No Proteas batters could cross the 30-run mark. Heinrich Klaasen (25 runs) and Gerald Coetzee (23 runs) were the highest run scorers for the hosts.The Indian bowling attack was led by Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, who bundled out the hosts at 141 with two overs remaining. Both Varun and Bishnoi picked up three wickets in the game.Samson was named the Player of the Match following his stellar show with the bat. India will take on South Africa in the second T20I match of the series on Sunday in Gqeberha.

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Barbados Royals Unveil Full-Strength Squad for Home Leg of CPL 2024

Barbados Royals Unveil Full-Strength Squad for Home Leg of CPL 2024

Barbados Royals Bolstered by Full-Strength Squad for Home Leg of CPL 2024Rovman Powell's Barbados Royals, one of two unbeaten teams in CPL 2024, will field a full-strength squad for their home leg, which commences on September 11 against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in Bridgetown.The Royals have been bolstered by the return of South African duo David Miller and Keshav Maharaj, who were rested for South Africa's upcoming tour of the UAE. Miller, who captained Paarl Royals in the SA20, and Maharaj, who has represented Royals in the IPL, bring a wealth of franchise T20 experience to the side.Batter Alick Athanaze has also recovered from a finger injury that sidelined him for the Royals' game against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots last week. With Maharaj's return, Sri Lankan allrounder Dunith Wellalage, who was signed as a replacement player, has returned home.Shamarh Brooks, who was initially selected as a temporary replacement for Miller, will remain with the squad as cover."We've got David Miller and Kesh Maharaj, and we've got our full complement of five overseas players," said Royals head coach Trevor Penney. "It will definitely be a different team and will be a good headache to have with some of the youngsters that have come in and played really well as well."The Royals have secured contrasting wins in contrasting conditions so far in CPL 2024. They overhauled 146 with plenty to spare on a North Sound pitch that got better for batting, while they scrapped to victory with just one ball to spare on a used Basseterre surface.Despite some rain in the lead-up to their home leg, Royals captain Powell suggested that it has not affected their preparation. "The practice wickets were good and the guys told me that the wickets in the middle are good," Powell said.Powell hopes that the experience of their overseas players will serve them well. "A lot of the guys have been playing franchise cricket around the world," Powell said. "These training sessions are just top-ups - just to get some blood flowing, hit a few balls in the middle and as a bowling group see if we can correct a few errors that we have made in the past few games."Maharaj will slot into Wellalage's role and will work with mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who has the best economy rate among all bowlers who have bowled at least 24 balls this CPL. With the pitches expected to slow down further, Powell spoke about the impact the spinners could have on the tournament."Bowlers win tournaments and batters win games," Powell said. "I think we have a pretty good overseas spin department and that is very, very important. In the Caribbean, quality spinners sometimes become difficult to bat [against]."

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Paarl Royals Retain Miller, Ngidi, Phehlukwayo for SA20 2025

Paarl Royals Retain Miller, Ngidi, Phehlukwayo for SA20 2025

Paarl Royals, one of the six franchises in the South African T20 league (SA20), have retained ten South African players for the upcoming 2025 season. Captain David Miller, fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo are among the notable names on the list.The Royals have also retained Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who were impressive signings in the inaugural edition of the SA20 in 2024. However, the franchise has released four players to make room for new additions: Dane Vilas, Evan Jones, Wihan Lubbe, and Ferisco Adams.To bolster their squad, the Royals have traded seam-bowling allrounder Dayyaan Galiem from Joburg Super Kings in exchange for Tabraiz Shamsi. The final squad, including overseas signings and released players, will be confirmed after the auction."We are delighted to go into the upcoming auction with a very formidable core of capped and uncapped South African players," said Kumar Sangakkara, Royals' Director of Cricket. "After the disappointment of last season where we faltered towards the latter stages of the tournament, it was important to re-look at the squad and make certain changes."Meanwhile, MI Cape Town, another SA20 franchise, has retained Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Delano Potgieter, Thomas Kaber, and Connor Esterhuizen. They have released Beuran Hendricks, Duan Jansen, Grant Roelofsen, and Neelan van Heerden.The new SA20 season is set to begin on January 9, 2025.

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Quinton de Kock's T20I Future Remains Uncertain, South Africa Hopeful

Quinton de Kock's T20I Future Remains Uncertain, South Africa Hopeful

South Africa's hopes of retaining Quinton de Kock for white-ball cricket remain alive, as the national white-ball coach, Rob Walter, expressed optimism that the star batter may not have played his last T20I. De Kock, who retired from Tests in 2021 and ODIs at last year's World Cup, was expected to end his T20I career at the recent World Cup in West Indies and USA. However, Walter believes there may be more to come from the enigmatic player."Quinny's an enigma. He hasn't officially called time. So we have that little glimmer of hope that sits in the background," Walter said. "Quinny has very high standards for himself and has dreamed about a World Cup win for a very long time. Has had a number of knocks along the way, not least this last final, You would have seen that he was very emotional with it. Whether we see him again, time will tell."Walter has not yet discussed the matter with de Kock, but South Africa's next T20Is are not until August, and de Kock is not on the national contract list, meaning he is not obligated to be available for those games. However, his availability for future tournaments remains a possibility."I've had no conversations with him. It wasn't the right time after the final to have that conversation," Walter said. "So let me leave it at saying your guess is as good as mine."Meanwhile, David Miller has confirmed his continued availability for South Africa in T20Is, putting an end to speculation about his retirement. Miller's decision is significant, as it suggests he may also continue playing ODIs, which could be crucial for South Africa's preparations for the 2027 home World Cup.Walter identified the team's improved ability to stay in the game under pressure as the biggest improvement in his time in charge. "We've progressed, no doubt about that. This last World Cup, the team won small moments which in the past, potentially, haven't gone our way. There was huge resilience, we showed a large skill set and we encountered very different conditions from the start in New York to the back end of the competition so it showed great versatility as well. For me, the team is ever-growing. We've made strides, but by no means the finished article."South Africa's director of cricket, Enoch Nkwe, hailed the team's successive T20 World Cup finals appearances as a "massive mindset shift." "Reaching two finals in a short period of time goes to show the buy-in, not only from the two teams, but also from a system point of view. There's been quite a lot of work that's been done and builds towards this moment. We're heading in the right direction."

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Suryakumar Yadav's Match-Winning Catch: A Product of Hard Work and Dilip's Guidance

Suryakumar Yadav's Match-Winning Catch: A Product of Hard Work and Dilip's Guidance

Suryakumar Yadav, India's star batter, has revealed the thought process behind his match-winning catch of David Miller in the ICC T20 World Cup final against South Africa. Yadav initially aimed to save a boundary but credits fielding coach T Dilip for the crucial catch that helped India secure the title.Yadav, who played a pivotal role in India's World Cup campaign with 199 runs in eight games, made several stunning catches throughout the tournament. In the final over of the match, with South Africa needing 16 runs from six balls, Miller attempted a big shot. Yadav, positioned near the boundary, plucked a remarkable catch, first catching the ball and putting it in the air, crossing the boundary and returning inside quickly to complete the catch.Speaking to Revsportz, Yadav said, "When I started running, I was not thinking of the catch. I was running with every iota of strength in my legs to make sure I somehow saved the boundary. I wanted to throw the ball back in and save two or three runs at least for the team. And honestly, I was not thinking of the catch."Yadav admitted to being under pressure to complete the catch but emphasized the team's hard work on fielding under Dilip's guidance. "He has worked very hard with us, and each one of us has taken out 15 minutes during practice to train with him. As batters, we can contribute only in one department, and often fielding goes unnoticed. But here, each one of us has trained separately, and the results are showing. The catch, I will say, is a product of the work we have put in."In the final match, India opted to bat first and posted 176/7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a counter-attacking partnership between Virat Kohli (76) and Axar Patel (47). South Africa's chase was hampered by early wickets, but a half-century by Heinrich Klaasen (52) threatened to take the game away from India. However, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya made a fine comeback in the death overs, restricting South Africa to 169/8.Kohli was named 'Player of the Match' for his performance, and India ended their ICC title drought of nearly 11 years.

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South Africa Survive Bangladesh Scare to Maintain Perfect T20 World Cup Record

South Africa Survive Bangladesh Scare to Maintain Perfect T20 World Cup Record

South Africa's T20 World Cup campaign has been marked by a shaky start from their top three batters, but they have managed to maintain a perfect record with a thrilling four-run victory over Bangladesh.Batting first on a challenging wicket in New York, South Africa found themselves in deep trouble at 23 for 4. However, a record-breaking 79-run partnership between Heinrich Klaasen (46) and David Miller (29) rescued the innings, guiding them to a modest total of 113 for 6.Bangladesh's chase began poorly, with the team struggling to 50 for 4 after 10 overs. Towhid Hridoy (37) and Mahmudullah (29) provided a glimmer of hope with a 44-run stand, but a controversial decision in the 17th over proved costly.Mahmudullah was initially given out leg before wicket, but replays showed he was not out. However, the four runs that were initially awarded as leg byes were not counted due to the dead ball ruling.In the final over, Bangladesh needed 11 runs to win, but Keshav Maharaj's three full tosses proved too costly. Mahmudullah was caught on the penultimate ball, and Jakar Ali was run out on the final delivery, handing South Africa a narrow victory.Despite their top-order struggles, South Africa's middle order has stepped up, with Klaasen and Miller providing crucial contributions. The team's bowling attack has also been impressive, with Maharaj, Nortje, and Rabada all taking wickets.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will rue their missed opportunities. They failed to capitalize on South Africa's poor start and were unable to chase down a modest target.

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David Miller: Strike Rate Paramount in T20 Cricket, Averages Less Relevant

David Miller: Strike Rate Paramount in T20 Cricket, Averages Less Relevant

David Miller, the South African batsman, believes that strike rate will be the primary measure of success in T20 cricket, with averages becoming less relevant for players with his level of impact. Miller has been a key player for both the Gujarat Titans in the IPL and the South African national team, excelling in the role of a finisher.In the current IPL season, batsmen have taken the power game to new heights, with seven scores above 250. This has sparked a debate about strike rate, with Miller emphasizing its importance. "In T20 cricket, it can be difficult to judge someone purely on average," he said. "When it comes to the middle order, it has always been the strike rates and what kind of impact the batter has had in the game."Miller believes that as T20 cricket evolves, the focus will shift towards impact and match-winning ability. "How impactful are you in the game? Depending on the situation. If we're needing 15 an over, can you do it? And that's, I think, what guys are going to have to select teams on their match-winning ability," he said.Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup next month, Miller anticipates tough challenges from bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah. "Bumrah is bowling well at the moment. And he has been a world-class bowler for many years. He's a threat to me, as well as every other batter in the World Cup," he said.Miller also praised Gujarat Titans teammate Sai Sudharsan, who is having a breakout IPL season. "He's an incredibly talented player. Still got a long career ahead of him. I've enjoyed watching him play. I love the way that he preps. And just the build-up to games and how he goes about it. He's a very level-headed young boy that's got a lot of talent," said Miller.Miller and South Africa will be aiming to win their first global title at the T20 World Cup. "This team that we have at the moment has played a lot of cricket together the last couple of years and has a lot of confidence and a lot of success," he said. "We've got a lot of experience, guys that have been under pressure before and come through successfully."Miller is confident in his own abilities in ICC events. "I love World Cups, I must be honest. I feel like I've done well at World Cups, personally. And I just want to continue the momentum," he said.

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David Miller Postpones Wedding for $150,000 BPL Payout

David Miller Postpones Wedding for $150,000 BPL Payout

Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram has revealed a sensational claim that South African all-rounder David Miller postponed his wedding to play the final three matches of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 for Fortune Barishal. Akram stated that Miller was offered a hefty sum of $150,000 (approximately Rs 1.24 crore) to participate in the crucial matches, which ultimately led Barishal to their maiden BPL title.Miller, who recently tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend Camilla Harris in a lavish ceremony in Cape Town, reportedly made the decision to prioritize his professional commitments over his personal life. Akram disclosed this information during A Sports' 'The Pavillion' show on March 12, following a match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL)."I just found out today because we were discussing who won the BPL as we were not following because of the PSL. David Miller was offered $150,000 to play three matches. He postponed his wedding," Akram said.Akram's revelation has sparked a buzz in the cricketing world, highlighting the financial incentives and sacrifices that players make to excel in their careers. Miller's decision to delay his wedding for the sake of his team's success is a testament to his dedication and commitment to the sport.In a separate incident, Akram criticized Pakistan batter Abdullah Shafique for his muted celebration after taking a catch to dismiss Imad Wasim during the PSL 2024 match between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United. Shafique's gesture, which involved putting his finger over his mouth, was interpreted by Akram as an attempt to silence his critics."No doubt, great catch but who is responsible for dropping 36 catches in Australia's Test series? Who will answer for that? Abdullah should work in drama industry rather than cricket," Akram said on A Sports.Akram's comments reflect his belief that players should focus on their performances rather than engaging in unnecessary theatrics. He emphasized the importance of accountability and responsibility in the game of cricket.Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly considering foreign coaches from the PSL to potentially lead the national team until next year's ICC Champions Trophy. With time running out and limited options available, the PCB is exploring the possibility of appointing a foreign coach to guide the team in the upcoming tournaments.

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