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Magic Miller blasts epic 35-ball T20 ton

South African sets new record for quickest to three figures in international T20 cricket ... all after he was dropped before scoring

David Miller smashed the fastest century in international Twenty20 cricket as South Africa outclassed Bangladesh by 83 runs in the second and final match at Senwes Park in Potchesfestroom on Sunday.

Miller's 35-ball hundred propelled South Africa to 4-224 before Bangladesh were bowled out for 141, completing a clean-sweep for South Africa in two Tests, three ODIs and two T20s.

It was an extraordinary innings by Miller. Dropped on nought, he admitted: "I felt pretty scratchy to be honest. In the first ten balls I could have been out twice."

He had only scored 18 runs off 14 balls, then came an assault which yielded 82 runs from the next 21 balls to get to his century.

"Once I hit one or two I decided to keep going," he said.

The previous fastest international T20 century was made from 45 balls by fellow South African Richard Levi against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2011-12. The fastest century in all T20 cricket belongs to Chris Gayle, who took 30 balls to reach triple figures batting for Royal Challengers Bangalore in a 2013 IPL match.

Five of Miller's nine sixes came off the first five balls of the 19th over, bowled by promising allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin, who had dismissed AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla and conceded only 22 runs in his first three overs.

Miller said he felt the rare feat of six sixes in an over was possible. 

"I got to the fourth one and thought I might as well go for it. The fifth one came out nicely."

Saifuddin pushed the last ball of his over wide of the off stump and Miller mistimed it for a single. 

"Looking back I probably could have hit six off six," said Miller.

The left-hander's innings could have ended off the second ball he faced as he gloved an attempted pull off Rubel Hossain. 

Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim dived to his right and appeared to have caught the ball but lost control as he landed on the ground.

Miller shared a 79-run fourth wicket partnership off 41 balls with Hashim Amla, who made 85 off 51 balls with 11 fours and a six.

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was understated in admitting it had been a poor tour for his team.

Ten fastest T20 hundreds (all formats)

Chris Gayle 30 balls, Royal Challengers Bangalore v Pune Warriors, 2013
Andrew Symonds 34 ball, Kent v Middlesex, 2004
Louis van der Westhuizen 35 balls, Namibia v Kenya, 2011
David Miller 35 balls, South Africa v Bangladesh, 2017
Yusuf Pathan 37 balls, Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians, 2010
Scott Styris 37 balls, Sussex v Gloucestershire, 2012
David Miller 38 balls, Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2013
Craig Simmons 39 balls, Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers, 2014
Ahmed Shehzad 40 balls, Barisal Burners v Duronto Rajshahi, 2012
David Willey 40 balls, Northamptonshire v Sussex, 2015

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