SA20 2023: David Miller pulls off a brilliant one-handed screamer to send Kusal Mendis packing

David Miller breathed fire in the 18^th game of the SA20 2023 League, when Paarl Royals and Pretoria Capitals locked horns at Boland Park in Paarl. The skipper David Miller led the team from front as Royals clinched a magnificent victory in the final over, thereby producing another nail-biting thriller of the competition. But alongside showcasing fine batting skills, Miller was also at his best while fielding.

Pretoria Capitals won the toss and elected to bat first. After losing the wicket of Will Jacks early in the game, opener Kusal Mendis and top-order batter Theunis de Bruyn led the attack wisely and added 52 runs on board. The duo sailed through the powerplay, but Miller’s brilliance on the field helped Tabraiz Shamsi send Kusal Mendis packing.

Mendis got a bit of a leading-edge as he tossed the ball up in the air. Just when it looked like it would land in a no man’s land, Miller ran in his opposite direction, back from square leg, dived forward, and grabbed a one-handed screamer. Miller pulled off one of the finest catches of the SA20 tournament and handed his side a crucial breakthrough in the game.

Here’s the video:

Paarl Royals clinch a final-over thriller

Speaking of how the game panned out, Pretoria Capitals put up a target of 159 runs for the Royals to chase. A well-composed half-century by Theunis de Bruyn and Kusal Mendis’ knock of a 26-ball 37 helped the Capitals score 158/6 in their allotted 20-over quota. As for the Royals, Ferisco Adams managed to pick up two wickets, while Bjorn Fortuin, Lungi Ngidi, Evan Jones, and Shamsi finished with a wicket each. Wihan Lubbe, who bowled just an over and went for 13 off it, went wicketless.

Jason Roy and Wihan Lubbe started off Paarl Royals’ chase brilliantly. After their 48-run opening partnership, Dane Vilas and Jos Buttler put up a 65-run stand for the third wicket, which kept the Royals in contention for winning. Their wickets put the Royals in trouble, but Miller played the captain’s knock. He dominated with the bat in the 42-run fifth partnership with Mitchell Van Buuren, scored 28*(14) hitting four boundaries and led his side to a brilliant six-wicket win in the final over.

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