MILLER'S MASTERCLASS: PROTEAS VETERAN EXORCISES WORLD CUP GHOSTS

At the end of the last ICC T20 World Cup final two years ago, David Miller was red-faced, sobbing and needing to be consoled by his teammates.

The Proteas’ most capped T20 international was crestfallen. He had taken his country to the brink of a first-ever T20 World Cup trophy but had been caught inches inside the rope in the final over just when he was preparing for the last push.

At 34 years old, the thought would no doubt have crossed Miller’s mind that his last chance at T20 World Cup glory after five previous failed attempts had evaporated into the Barbados sky.

But after a winding road, littered with pot-holes as his ageing body started to feel the years of rigorous grind that put his participation at this T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in jeopardy until the very last moment, the southpaw found himself once again in the centre of the cauldron at the monstrous Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

The Paarl Royals skipper walked to the crease with the Proteas wobbling at 20/3 against the self-same opponents India in their all-important Super Eights clash. He had Betway SA20 star Dewald Brevis for company, but the veteran knew there was blood in the water and India were circling like great white sharks eager for more victims.

The occasion called on all his years of experience to guide both young Brevis and the Proteas out of danger.

He responded with a match-winning 63 off 35 balls, forming a 97-run partnership with Brevis, that propelled the Proteas to 187/7 and ultimately a defining 76-run victory over the defending champions.

“It felt really, really good to obviously put in a performance like that against India in a big game,” Miller said.

“You don't often get a huge opportunity to be able to bat for long periods of time, so I actually really enjoy it.

“I think in those situations, 20-3, it's just about making sure that you're really in good positions and not necessarily loose. That's how I approach it.

“I've been playing the game for a while now. It's about making sure that I really do stick to, when there're high-pressure moments in front of a big audience, it's about making sure that you really stick to the simple things and the basics and do that really well.

“And making sure that my intent is really good. You have to be able to put the bad balls away and then it applies pressure on the opposition.

“I mean obviously we don't want to be in trouble, but I do find the positive out of it and it allows me to make a play. Yeah, so it's really cool to be able to put in a performance like that.”

The feature of Miller’s sublime innings was his take down of India’s World No 1 T20 bowler Varun Chakravarthy.

The mystery spinner had been the epitome of consistency and control in his previous four matches, conceding only three boundaries and a single six, in its entirety.

But on Sunday, Miller counter-punched with two boundaries in Chakravarthy’s first over before launching him for a 95-metre six over long-on the next over.

A further boundary flowed off Miller’s bat before Brevis (45 off 29 balls) joined in with a slash through point before his trademark ‘no-look’ six that sailed into the stands.

Chakravarthy’s torment was not done yet with Miller adding another boundary through extra cover.

Although Miller eventually fell on his sword, caught on the long-off boundary, the plan had worked to perfection.

“He's a world-class bowler and he has had huge success, but I think for us it was more just, I mean, it's not like in the past where we've been quite tentative,” he said.

“I think it's just about really making sure that we were on it in terms of if he bowls a bad ball we got to put it away - so a little bit more intent.

“And it wasn't spinning too much, so you can kind of trust the line. And once we felt that, then we felt, OK, we've got to take him down, because he is a threat to every team that he does play against.”

With Tristan Stubbs also contributing an invaluable 44 not out before Marco Jansen (4/22), Keshav Maharaj (3/24) and Corbin Bosch (2/12) combining to dismiss India for just 111, the Proteas are starting to resemble a team that could go all the way this time.

But having seen this movie all before, Miller is taking each challenge as it comes with the Proteas still to face West Indies (Thursday) and neighbours Zimbabwe (Sunday) in their remaining Super Eights fixtures.

“I think for us in a tournament like this, it's about making sure that we do, as I said, I keep going back to the simple things and making sure that we stay in our lane as a player and do the job and get the job done,” he said.

“We're a mature team. A lot of guys have played together and a lot of cricket for South Africa and that goes a long way under pressure. So I think it's just staying in your lane, making sure that you get the job done and keep wanting more.”