David Miller turned in a match-winning performance with bat and gloves, but he admits that Sri Lanka made the Proteas work hard for their win in the first T20I at Newlands.

‘Didn’t expect the Super Over, but great result,’ said Player of the Match Miller. ‘We haven’t really prepped for something like that, but took five minutes and gathered our thoughts about who should bat and bowl.

‘Rassie and I were going well, then he lost his wicket, and my run-out was very unnecessary. But we got the win at the end of the day and we can learn from it. It was a little bit longer than expected,’ added Miller.

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Having been well placed for the win, needing 18 for victory in the final four overs and with seven wickets in hand, the prospect of a Super Over was possibly the furthest thing from the Proteas’ minds, so it required some quick thinking and adjustment from their side to get ready for the hit-out.

‘We thought around 10 would be a good figure in the Super Over, so we tried to give ourselves a chance, and it came off well,’ beamed Miller.

Sri Lanka skipper Lasith Malinga was the unlucky bowler who was smashed for 14 runs off the Super Over, which was in stark contrast to his exceptional spell with the ball during the Proteas’ 20 overs.

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‘T20 is a very interesting game,’ said Malinga, who returned the magnificent figures of 2-11 (econ 2.75) from his four overs. ‘We tried our best, but at the end of the day we didn’t get what we need. But I’m still really happy with how we did. I think 130 is not enough to win a T20 game, but using two spinners did work.

‘I’m used to these situations and conditions. Now I’m getting too old,’ he said, and laughed. ‘I tried my best to show the youngsters how it’s done, bowling the variations. I tried the variations in the Super Over, but it didn’t happen. Miller batted really well.

‘I always believe people can do something special. I got four wickets in four balls once, so something is always possible,’ added Malinga.

Photo: Rodger Bosch/AFP/Getty Images