Heinrich Klaasen says David Miller was crucial to the momentum shifting in the Proteas’ favour against India at the Wanderers on Saturday. 

Having already lost AB de Villiers, the Proteas were facing another batting collapse at 107-5 when Miller was dropped on 7 off a no-ball from Yuzvendra Chahal.

Miller, though, took advantage of his second chance and together with Klaasen they shared a 72-run partnership that not only took the hosts to 174-4 but also turned the game into their favour.

‘Between myself and David, we can let that run-rate go up till about probably 12-13, especially at the Wanderers where the ball tends to fly quite a bit,’ said Klaasen.

‘It was definitely a momentum changer for us, getting that free hit on David’s wicket. He’s a cool, calm and experienced cricketer and he just said, “Anything in our slot we need to back and whatever we do we need to do fully.”

‘And then at the end of the over, after a couple of boundaries, the value of David being there and myself being there at the start of the next over – it’s bigger than just having a slog at a couple of balls. So we were very calculated in our approach there. Maybe it didn’t look like it. But it was all calculated and planned out, what we wanted to do.’

When Miller lost his wicket the Proteas needed 28 off 26 balls.

‘I didn’t think we were over the line, but I was still calm. I’ve done it a lot. I mean 28 off 28 [actually 26], the batting side should win 99% of the time.

‘I’ve done it at Varsity Cup level, I’ve done it at amateur cricket. It still stays 28 off 28, doesn’t change. Just the pressure becomes higher. So you need to keep that cool and calm composure and luckily Andile took all that pressure off me.’

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