Australia skipper Steve Smith astounded at loss to South Africa despite two batsmen scoring hundreds for the visitors before Miller's killer innings
South African batsman David Miller celebrates after winning the match against Australia in Durban on Wednesday (Pic/AFP). Inset: Steve Smith
Durban: Australia fell victim to another mammoth one-day international run chase as David Miller's stunning century helped South Africa clinch their five-match series in Durban.
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Skipper Steven Smith and David Warner both hit centuries as Australia piled up 371 for six, but it was not enough as Miller took centre stage under the Kingsmead lights in the third ODI.
The left-hander plundered an unbeaten 118 from 79 balls, including six sixes, and was joined by Andile Phehlukwayo in an unbroken 107-run stand to steer the Proteas to a barely-believable four-wicket victory with four balls to spare.
Aussies on a bad run
Australia now have the unenviable record of having been on the receiving end of six of the seven highest ODI run chases in history. The most significant of those was came 10 years ago when the Proteas reeled in a record pursuit of 434 for four in Johannesburg.
Victory in Durban represented the highest chase behind that famous win as the world champions, and number-one ranked ODI nation, fell 3-0 behind in the series. Australia had seemed on course for victory when Smith and Warner both hit centuries to post the highest-ever ODI score at Durban.
"I said at the toss that we needed one batsman to get a hundred and two of us did it. You don't lose too many games with 370 on the board but credit to South Africa. David Miller played an absolute blinder," said Smith.
Miller had also shown signs of struggling with a leg problem, but he put those concerns to one side as he launched an all-out assault alongside fourth-gamer Phehlukwayo, who finished unbeaten on 42, to secure a memorable win.
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