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Johannesburg - David Miller blasted one of the greatest Twenty20 innings ever seen with his sensational unbeaten century scripting an unbelievable six-wicket victory for the Kings XI Punjab over the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their Indian Premier League clash on Monday.
According to the supersport.com website, the Proteas batsman smashed seven sixes and eight fours in a mere 38 deliveries to help the hosts reach a daunting 191 victory target with 12 deliveries to spare.
Miller’s innings of 101 at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali was made even more special considering his team required 96 off 42 balls at one stage.
Full scorecard
VIDEO: Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore, highlights
He was dropped twice along the way, on 23 and 41, but recovered to slaughter the visiting bowlers in an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 130 in 8.1 overs with Rajagopal Sathish (27 off 18).
Earlier, Chris Gayle was his blistering usual self, smashing three sixes and six fours in his 61 off 33, and also shared in a 102-run opening stand with Cheteshwar Pujara (51 off 48).
AB de Villiers then pasted 38 off just 19 to add the finishing touches at the death.
Punjab, who won the toss and bowled first, initially managed to curb Gayle’s free-scoring with just 23 coming in the first four overs.
But the West Indian found his range in the fifth over when he climbed into South African-born Australian debutant Michael Neser, plundering him for 18, including two sixes to deep midwicket.
That got Bangalore going, and after the 50 was raised in the next over, Piyush Chawla managed to stop the free flow of runs by conceding just 19 in three overs.
Gayle reached his 50 from 27 balls, before the 100 was raised in the 12th over thanks to another stunning six - the big opener lifting Manpreet Gony from the block hole over the head of long-on for six.
But the bowler had his revenge next ball as he knocked back the middle stump of the danger man, ending a fine opening stand.
Pujara, who went to a maiden IPL 50 in 45 balls, fell not too long after, followed by Virat Kohli (14) as the wheels threatened to come off for the away side.
But De Villiers then arrived and thumped two sixes and four fours during an unbroken fourth wicket stand with Moises Henriques (16 off 7) to set 191.
The Kings’ reply was a poor one as they lost four wickets inside the first 10 overs.
Shaun Marsh (six) fell in the third over when he picked out De Villiers at extra cover with a drive off Ravi Rampaul, while Mandeep Singh (16) edged Vinay Kumar to wicketkeeper Arun Karthik two overs later.
Murali Kartik’s double blow then accounted for Gurkeerat Singh (20) leg before wicket and David Hussey (13) picked out Henriques at long-on leaving the total on 64 for four.
Miller and Satish initially ticked along slowly, and by the time the 100 was raised in over 14, there were still 90 needed from 39 deliveries.
But then came the carnage as Miller was put down by both Gayle and Kohli - the skipper grassing a skier at extra cover - in a 17-run 14th over.
The momentum continued into a horror 26-run 15th over from RP Singh, which went 6-1w-6-4-4-4-1, all from the bat of Miller who went to 50 in 24 balls, before 16 and 18 followed in the next two overs.
Gayle was given what turned out to be the last over, and after Satish crunched his first five balls for 16, Miller ended the game with a straight six - the rising young star requiting just 14 deliveries for his second 50 and winning runs.
According to the supersport.com website, the Proteas batsman smashed seven sixes and eight fours in a mere 38 deliveries to help the hosts reach a daunting 191 victory target with 12 deliveries to spare.
Miller’s innings of 101 at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali was made even more special considering his team required 96 off 42 balls at one stage.
Full scorecard
VIDEO: Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore, highlights
He was dropped twice along the way, on 23 and 41, but recovered to slaughter the visiting bowlers in an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 130 in 8.1 overs with Rajagopal Sathish (27 off 18).
Earlier, Chris Gayle was his blistering usual self, smashing three sixes and six fours in his 61 off 33, and also shared in a 102-run opening stand with Cheteshwar Pujara (51 off 48).
AB de Villiers then pasted 38 off just 19 to add the finishing touches at the death.
Punjab, who won the toss and bowled first, initially managed to curb Gayle’s free-scoring with just 23 coming in the first four overs.
But the West Indian found his range in the fifth over when he climbed into South African-born Australian debutant Michael Neser, plundering him for 18, including two sixes to deep midwicket.
That got Bangalore going, and after the 50 was raised in the next over, Piyush Chawla managed to stop the free flow of runs by conceding just 19 in three overs.
Gayle reached his 50 from 27 balls, before the 100 was raised in the 12th over thanks to another stunning six - the big opener lifting Manpreet Gony from the block hole over the head of long-on for six.
But the bowler had his revenge next ball as he knocked back the middle stump of the danger man, ending a fine opening stand.
Pujara, who went to a maiden IPL 50 in 45 balls, fell not too long after, followed by Virat Kohli (14) as the wheels threatened to come off for the away side.
But De Villiers then arrived and thumped two sixes and four fours during an unbroken fourth wicket stand with Moises Henriques (16 off 7) to set 191.
The Kings’ reply was a poor one as they lost four wickets inside the first 10 overs.
Shaun Marsh (six) fell in the third over when he picked out De Villiers at extra cover with a drive off Ravi Rampaul, while Mandeep Singh (16) edged Vinay Kumar to wicketkeeper Arun Karthik two overs later.
Murali Kartik’s double blow then accounted for Gurkeerat Singh (20) leg before wicket and David Hussey (13) picked out Henriques at long-on leaving the total on 64 for four.
Miller and Satish initially ticked along slowly, and by the time the 100 was raised in over 14, there were still 90 needed from 39 deliveries.
But then came the carnage as Miller was put down by both Gayle and Kohli - the skipper grassing a skier at extra cover - in a 17-run 14th over.
The momentum continued into a horror 26-run 15th over from RP Singh, which went 6-1w-6-4-4-4-1, all from the bat of Miller who went to 50 in 24 balls, before 16 and 18 followed in the next two overs.
Gayle was given what turned out to be the last over, and after Satish crunched his first five balls for 16, Miller ended the game with a straight six - the rising young star requiting just 14 deliveries for his second 50 and winning runs.
