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Keshav Maharaj hails Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller for their exceptional performance

image-l8xfurzgHeinrich Klaasen and David Miller (PC: Twitter)

Following a loss in the T20I series by 1-2, South Africa have bounced back stronger in the One Day Internationals. The visitors looked absolutely brilliant in the first One Day International in Lucknow as they cruised to a win by nine runs. Both the bowlers and batters did their job well in thrashing the favourites.

Batting first, South Africa posted 249 runs on the scoreboard. The match was reduced to 40 overs due to interruption by rain. The team did not get off to a good start as Janeman Malan, Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram departed early. However, the middle-order duo of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller caused carnage on the field.

The two batters looked absolutely lethal as they hammered the Indian bowlers all over the park. Klaasen started the assaults as he stitched a 39-run partnership with Quinton de Kock. The 31-year-old was joined by Miller and the two together steered South Africa to a decent total.

A look at Miller and Klaasen’s exploits

Klaasen smacked 74* runs off 65 balls while Miller added 75* runs to the scoreboard after facing 63 balls. The 139-run partnership between the two players emerged as the difference between India and South Africa. The vice-captain Keshav Maharaj was all praises for the middle-order batters.

The spinner hailed Miller and Klaasen for their match-defining knocks. Moreover, Maharaj hailed Temba Bavuma as a captain, while adding that he was just assisting him as and when required. Speaking in the post-match presentation, the vice-captain said,

“Yeah, Klaasen and Miller played well. Took the innings deep and finished off well. I was just aiding with some inputs, nothing much. Bavuma is a great leader. He knows the game in and out.”

Maharaj speaks about his performance

Further in the interaction, Maharaj opened up on his game against India. The spinner looked in control of the line and length as he gave a tough time to the Indian batters. The 32-year-old accounted for one wicket in the form of Ishan Kishan. Meanwhile, it was his economy rate of 2.9 that made him the star bowler for Proteas.

"Yeah, just thought of sticking to my lines and lengths. Didn't do anything much different. Definitely, I would take this pitch everywhere I go.”

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