Big-hitting Miller’s lucky break in Tykes’ t20 quarter-final romp (From York Press)

Big-hitting Miller’s lucky break in Tykes’ t20 quarter-final romp

10:38am Saturday 28th July 2012 in Sport

David Miller has revealed that he took a huge gamble before playing a crucial role in Yorkshire’s Friends Life t20 quarter-final win over Worcestershire at Headingley.

Miller smashed a blistering 25-ball 50 as the hosts racked up an imposing 212-5.

Miller hit four fours and three sixes, sharing 52 in five overs with Joe Root for the fourth wicket and then 47 in four overs with Gary Ballance for the fifth as the hosts more than doubled their score in the last nine overs.

Yorkshire’s batting was a stunning display of power hitting – but South Africa’s Miller said his innings was down to a lucky break.

“In the previous game, which was two weeks ago, I actually broke the bat I’ve been carrying for the whole ten games,” explained the left-hander.

“So I had to use a different one, and thankfully it was a lot sweeter. I’m going to have to keep that for Finals Day.

“I got it from India, and it was new out of the wrapper and an absolutely beauty.”

Miller’s form for Yorkshire has been exceptional in t20 this summer, scoring 274 runs at an average of 38.71 including three half-centuries against Durham, Lancashire and Worcestershire.

He is Yorkshire’s leading run-scorer in the competition and in the top five in the country.

“I’ve really tried to work on my Twenty20 game to give myself the best chance of scoring heavily,” he said. “It’s about building a platform.

“If I’m a couple of runs behind the balls to start with, I don’t really mind. Towards the last five overs, you can catch up and score heavily.”

Not only will Miller be available for Finals Day at Cardiff, he would also be available for the Champions League in South Africa in October, for which Yorkshire will qualify should they beat Sussex in the semi-finals.

Neither of Miller’s other two teams, the Dolphins from South Africa and the Kings XI Punjab from India, have qualified.

Yorkshire were yesterday given a major boost with the news that England will release Tim Bresnan from one-day duty to play at Finals Day on Saturday, August 25, especially as they will not be able to call upon the services of Australian Mitchell Starc.

Bresnan is due to play for England against South Africa at Cardiff the day before. It will be his first domestic t20 appearance of the summer.