Miller’s record ton sets up clean sweep

David Miller blasted the fastest century in Twenty20 International cricket history to help South Africa defeat Bangladesh by 83 runs in the second and final Twenty20 international at Senwes Park on Sunday.

Miller’s unbeaten 36-ball 101 – he got to his century off just 35 balls – took South Africa to a mammoth 224 for 4 after being asked to bat. In reply, Bangladesh was bowled out for just 141, completing a clean-sweep for the home side in two Tests, three One-Day Internationals and two T20Is.

Miller was dropped on zero off the second ball he faced as he gloved Rubel Hossain to Mushfiqur Rahim. The Bangladesh wicketkeeper dived to his right and appeared to have held the ball but lost control while landing on the ground.

Miller managed only 18 runs off his first 14 balls, but saved his best for the remaining 21 deliveries. He hammered as many as 82 runs in that phase, powering to a century that pushed behind fellow South African Richard Levi’s 45-ball ton against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2011-12.

In all, Miller smashed nine sixes, with five of those coming in the 19th over, bowled by Mohammad Saifuddin.

The bowler had got AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla and conceded only 22 runs in his first three overs, but Miller ripped him apart in his final over. He smashed five consecutive sixes before managing only a single off the last ball, which was pushed wide of off-stump.

Miller’s knock nearly overshadowed Amla’s 85 off 51 balls, which included 11 fours and a six. The two batsmen shared a 79-run stand for the fourth wicket before Amla fell in the 17th over.

The partnership helped South Africa fight back form a poor start, where it managed only 37 for 2 in the first five.

Bangladesh’s good start was mainly due to Shakib Al Hasan, the captain, who opened the bowling and bowled four straight overs for returns of 2 for 22. However, the rest of the attack could do little against Miller’s onslaught.

Bangladesh started its chase by scoring 17 off the first over, but once Imrul Kayes was run out in the second over, things went downhill.

Soumya Sarkar hit 44 off 27 but there was little contribution from the rest, as Bangladesh slipped to 72 for 5.