South Africa’s David Miller may have ended up on the losing side, but he etched his name in history by breaking India’s legendary opener Virender Sehwag’s 23-year-old record for the fastest century in the ICC Champions Trophy.
During the second semi-final against New Zealand at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Miller fought a lone battle in the Proteas’ chase of a daunting 363-run target. While wickets continued to tumble at the other end, Miller showcased his batting prowess, keeping his team’s faint hopes alive.
On the final ball of the match, Miller sprinted for a double to reach his century, remaining unbeaten and surpassing Sehwag’s long-standing milestone. The South African batter reached the three-figure mark in just 67 deliveries, breaking Sehwag’s record of a 77-ball century against England in the 2002 edition of the tournament in Colombo.
This remarkable century also reinforced Miller’s dominance in ICC ODI knockout matches. In his last four appearances in such fixtures, he has registered two centuries and a half-century. He played a crucial unbeaten knock of 56 off 51 balls against England in the 2013 Champions Trophy semi-final, followed by a blistering 49 off just 18 deliveries against New Zealand in the 2015 World Cup semi-final. More recently, he struck a valiant 101 off 116 balls against Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
New Zealand’s Commanding Performance
New Zealand set the tone for the match with a formidable batting display. Winning the toss and electing to bat, Kane Williamson (102) and Rachin Ravindra (108) capitalized on Lahore’s batting-friendly pitch, steering the Kiwis into a commanding position.
Late fireworks from Glenn Phillips (49*) and Daryl Mitchell (49) further bolstered New Zealand’s innings, pushing them to a record-breaking total of 362/6 — the highest team score in Champions Trophy history.
South Africa Falters Despite Miller’s Heroics
Chasing 363, South Africa struggled under the scoreboard pressure, losing wickets at regular intervals. Miller stood firm, but the mounting required run rate made the task nearly impossible. Ultimately, the Proteas succumbed to a 50-run defeat, dashing their title hopes once again.
Earlier in the tournament, Australia’s Josh Inglis had equaled Sehwag’s record by smashing a 77-ball century against England during the group stage in Lahore. However, Miller’s breathtaking innings now stands as the fastest in Champions Trophy history.