Miller was named Man of the Match for his career-best knock of 138
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
South Africa batsman David Miller and all-rounder JP Duminy both scored centuries to help the Proteas beat a spirited Zimbabwe side by 62 runs in Hamilton.
However, Zimbabwe batsman Hamilton Masakadza and opener Chamu Chibhabha deserve a lot of credit for making 80 and 64 respectively.
Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura would have been delighted with his decision to bowl first after Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and South Africa skipper AB de Villiers were dismissed at regular intervals.
Miller and Duminy stabilised the innings with an unbeaten 256-run partnership, which is now the highest fifth-wicket stand in ODI history.
During their record-breaking partnership, Miller brought up his second ODI century and Duminy his fourth, to lead South Africa to 339/4 off their 50 overs.
Miller finished on a career-best 138, which came off 92 balls and included seven boundaries and nine sixes, while Duminy remained undefeated on 115 off 100 deliveries, which included nine boundaries and three sixes.
Duminy celebrates after scoring his fourth ODI century
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Chigumbura, Tinashe Panyangara, Tendai Chatara and Tafadzwa Kamungozi picked up one wicket apiece.
Chasing 340 to win, Zimbabwe got off to a poor start as opening batsman Sikandar Raza was clean bowled by Vernon Philander for five runs.
Chibhabha and Masakadza made up for the early loss of Raza with a 105-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before Chibhabha was caught by Duminy at extra cover off the bowling of Imran Tahir.
Chibhabha’s excellent knock of 64 came off 82 balls and included 10 boundaries.
Chibhabha made a valiant 64
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Masakadza and Brendan Taylor kept the runs flowing with a 54-run partnership before Masakadza was caught by Amla at cover off the bowling of Tahir.
Masakadza’s brilliant innings of 80 came off 74 deliveries and included eight boundaries and two sixes.
Masakadza made a gutsy 80
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Following Masakadza’s dismissal, Zimbabwe’s middle and lower order collapsed as they went from 191/3 to being bowled out for 277.
Tahir was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Philander and Morne Morkel snapped up two wickets apiece and Duminy and Dale Steyn claimed one wicket each.
Miller was named Man of the Match, and said: “The first hundred will also be memorable, but this one was really nice as well. I just needed to construct a partnership with someone, and JP was the man today. It was a bit slow initially, but it definitely eased up towards the end. We just kept encouraging each other along the way and we knew how important this partnership was to the team. I can take a lot of positives in how I constructed this innings, especially when rotating the strike with the spinners on.”