David Miller says his fifty against Australia came at the right time after a frustrating period out of the team.

Miller struck an unbeaten 53 from 35 balls in Friday’s first T20 international against Australia at Kingsmead to help win the game for his team. It was his first score of fifty or more in any format for South Africa since the 50-over World Cup in Australia last year, against Zimbabwe in the group stages and his highest score in T20s.

South Africa are now 1-0 up in the series. The last time they lost a T20 series was in January 2015 against the West Indies. They have since beaten Bangladesh (away), India (away) and England (home) while drawing with New Zealand at home.

Miller was not selected for the ODI series against England and only batted once in the two T20s, but his stocks have no doubt risen after Friday’s knock. He isn’t getting carried away, though.

‘It’s great timing, but it is just one innings and the next innings I’m going to have to start on nought again,’ Miller said.

‘It’s all about momentum going into the World Cup and as a team we’ve really done well over the last couple of months. It’s really nice to be back in the runs. I really enjoyed the opportunity. I had a bit of time to bat, it was a little bit of pressure there but I really enjoyed the moment and playing in front of my home crowd.’

Miller admitted that his time on the sidelines was difficult and recognised the need to remind the selectors of his qualities in the middle order.

‘It was very frustrating to be out of the team to be honest,’ he said. ‘But I never felt out of form. I really felt good, hitting the ball well in the nets. Unfortunately, batting in the middle order, you sometimes don’t get the opportunities. You sometimes have to go for the team at certain stages. Your wicket has to go for the team, but that’s just how it goes in the middle order. It’s very nice to be back and hitting it sweetly.’