Miller's miss and tumbling redemption(s)
Plays of the day from the second T20I between South Africa and New Zealand in Centurion
Firdose Moonda
16-Aug-2015
David Miller leaves a mark with a dropped catch • Associated Press
Going to ground
After South Africa spilt a few under the lights in Durban, AB de Villiers said he would always be able to forgive his team-mates a dropped catch, as long as they continue to create chances. So David Miller would not have had too much to worry about when he got under a Martin Guptill lofted shot to long-on and even put it the dive to take the catch but, on an unstable outfield, could not hold on. Miller tumbled forward, the ball bobbled out of his hand and the indentation of disappointment was etched onto the brown grass.
After South Africa spilt a few under the lights in Durban, AB de Villiers said he would always be able to forgive his team-mates a dropped catch, as long as they continue to create chances. So David Miller would not have had too much to worry about when he got under a Martin Guptill lofted shot to long-on and even put it the dive to take the catch but, on an unstable outfield, could not hold on. Miller tumbled forward, the ball bobbled out of his hand and the indentation of disappointment was etched onto the brown grass.
Going to hand
Guptill was on 38 when Miller messed up and had added 22 more runs to his score before Miller had the chance to make up for it. He was at long-on again when Guptill tried to dispatch part-timer Farhaan Behardien over the boundary but mis-hit the ball Miller's way. Again, Miller got under it and put it in the dive but this time he was prepared for the inevitable tumble on a turf that had begun to look like the back of moon and fell, ball in hand. He created another mini crater, this time in celebration, and Behardien had claimed his first T20 wicket.
Guptill was on 38 when Miller messed up and had added 22 more runs to his score before Miller had the chance to make up for it. He was at long-on again when Guptill tried to dispatch part-timer Farhaan Behardien over the boundary but mis-hit the ball Miller's way. Again, Miller got under it and put it in the dive but this time he was prepared for the inevitable tumble on a turf that had begun to look like the back of moon and fell, ball in hand. He created another mini crater, this time in celebration, and Behardien had claimed his first T20 wicket.
Going to hand II
If Miller had any lingering concerns about whether he had something to prove after the drop, he wiped them away with his next catch. Luke Ronchi flat-batted a David Wiese slower-ball bouncer to deep midwicket, where Miller would barely have had time to see it coming his way, much less think about how he was going to catch it. He ran in on instinct, reached out his hands and the ball stuck.
If Miller had any lingering concerns about whether he had something to prove after the drop, he wiped them away with his next catch. Luke Ronchi flat-batted a David Wiese slower-ball bouncer to deep midwicket, where Miller would barely have had time to see it coming his way, much less think about how he was going to catch it. He ran in on instinct, reached out his hands and the ball stuck.
Going for broke
Hashim Amla abandoned his usual subtlety when Adam Milne presented him with a short, wide delivery that was asking for ugliness. Amla cut viciously as he rocked back, but then saw he had sent the ball straight to point. Colin Munro did not have to pull off any heroics, just stand and collect while Amla dropped to his knee in his irritation at his own haste.
Hashim Amla abandoned his usual subtlety when Adam Milne presented him with a short, wide delivery that was asking for ugliness. Amla cut viciously as he rocked back, but then saw he had sent the ball straight to point. Colin Munro did not have to pull off any heroics, just stand and collect while Amla dropped to his knee in his irritation at his own haste.
Going high
AB de Villiers was playing with the freedom of a released prisoner and seemed to be in total control. He went over the covers and then found the gap through them, slog swept over square leg and then tried to do it again but his own eagerness caught up with him. Instead of distance, de Villiers got height and Jimmy Neesham at long-on had the time to take the catch. He was squinting into the sun as the ball swirled above him, and he had to shield his eyes with one hand while judging the catch with the other. He got into a good position though and ended up getting both hands around the ball to end de Villiers' sprightly innings.
AB de Villiers was playing with the freedom of a released prisoner and seemed to be in total control. He went over the covers and then found the gap through them, slog swept over square leg and then tried to do it again but his own eagerness caught up with him. Instead of distance, de Villiers got height and Jimmy Neesham at long-on had the time to take the catch. He was squinting into the sun as the ball swirled above him, and he had to shield his eyes with one hand while judging the catch with the other. He got into a good position though and ended up getting both hands around the ball to end de Villiers' sprightly innings.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent