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Miller ton gives South Africa big win

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David Miller hit a sensational century as South Africa pulled off the second highest One-Day International run-chase of all time on Wednesday (October 5) in a four-wicket triumph over Australia at Kingsmead in Durban. The result helped the home side seal the series in the third game with two matches to go.

Miller hit 118 not out off 79 balls as South Africa chased down what had been a ground record 371 for 6 by Australia with four balls to spare. "It took a freakish innings to win the game. It was an amazing knock," said Faf du Plessis, the South African captain.

David Warner and Steve Smith hit centuries for Australia and seemed to have done enough to get their team back into the five-match series after losing the first two games. "I said at the toss that we needed one batsman to get a hundred and two of us did it," said Smith. "You don't lose too many games with 370 on the board, but credit to South Africa. David Miller played an absolute blinder."

The match seemed all but won for Australia when Andile Phehlukwayo joined Miller with South Africa precariously placed at 265 for 6. Phehlukwayo survived a confident appeal for a catch behind the wicket off Chris Tremain before he had scored, but Australia did not have a review left. Replays showed a clear edge.

Phehlukwayo made 42 not out and helped Miller see South Africa home with an unbeaten partnership of 107 off 74 balls as Australia's inexperienced bowling attack once again failed to contain the home team's batsmen. It was only the third time in 42 ODIs that a team had made 300 or more at Kingsmead, a ground which seldom yields big totals.

South Africa was always close to the required rate, with Quinton de Kock making 70 off 49 balls, but the home side kept losing wickets. Miller, though, was undeterred despite hobbling between wickets because of a groin strain. He hit ten fours and six sixes, one of them bouncing off a grandstand roof out of the ground, in making his third ODI century.

"It was the best win that I have been involved in," said Du Plessis. "Most teams would have felt they were dead and buried." Warner made his 117 off 107 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes, while Smith faced 107 balls for his 108 and hit nine fours and a six.

Warner and Aaron Finch gave Australia a blazing start, putting on 110 for the first wicket off 81 balls, with Dale Steyn coming in for particularly heavy punishment. Although Steyn picked up two wickets late in the innings, he conceded 96 runs in ten overs, the most by a South African in ODIs. Kagiso Rabada was also expensive, taking 1 for 86 in ten overs.

Please clickhereto review the match in full in theICC Match Centre