Markram, Miller and Ngidi help Proteas cruise past Canada in T20 World Cup opener

Proteas’ veteran David Miller made a welcome return to the national team in the iCC T20 World Cup clash against Canada on Monday in Ahmedabad. South Africa: 213/4 (Markram 59, Miller 39*, Stubbs 34*, Patel 3/31) “He really loves this stadium,” said former New Zealand fast bowler Danny Morrison on commentary after David Miller launched a third six into the mass of empty orange seats of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Miller, of course, developed an adoring relationship with this mega mass of concrete that seats a world record 135 000 spectators during his three successful seasons here with IPL outfit Gujarat Titans.

Only a few thousand locals had come out on Monday evening to watch Miller, and the Proteas take onCanada in their T20 World Cup opener, but that would not have mattered to the veteran southpaw and his teammates. The only point of consequence was the fact that the Proteas collected the two crucial Group C points to kickstart their T20 World Cup campaign and that Miller had come through his first game unscathed upon his return from injury. The 36-year-old had only played a single warm-up match since the final group game in the Betway SA20 last month, where he picked up a groin niggle that ruled the veteran out of the preceding West Indies series.