It was hardly ideal for South African batsman David Miller, who talked about the team’s hop to Dubai and back before the Champions Trophy semi-final loss to New Zealand in Lahore. The haphazard scheduling was in stark contrast to Australia and South Africa, both of whom had to go to Dubai from Pakistan just before the semi-finals. South Africa landed on the other side for perhaps less than 24 hours before returning without having played a game, whereas Australia stayed back and lost to India in the semi-finals. The haphazard scheduling came in the wake of India playing all their games in Dubai after refusing to travel to the tournament hosts Pakistan for political reasons.
“Its only an hour and 40-minute flight, but just taking it was not ideal,” Miller said after South Africa lost to New Zealand by 50 runs on Wednesday.
Just after South Africa’s triumph over England in Karachi on Saturday, the trip turned out to be a wasted effort.
“It’s early morning, it’s after a game, and we have to fly. Then we got to Dubai at 4:00 pm.
“And at 7.30 amwe have to come back. It doesn’t make it nice.
“Not that we flew five hours, with enough time to recover and recuperate, but it was not an ideal situation still.”
Miller scored an unbeaten 100 off 67 balls in a losing cause as South Africa lost their clash with New Zealand who would face India in the final on Sunday in Dubai.
The Black Caps registered the highest-ever Champions Trophy total of 362-6 on the basis of scintillating centuries by Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson.
Temba Bavuma (56) and Rassie van der Dussen (69) entertained South African innings with a 105-run second-wicket partnership before New Zealand’s spinners, led by Mitchell Santner’s 3-43, restricted them to 312-9 at the end of 50 overs.
“It is not easy chasing 360 even if it’s a good wicket,” Patel with four sixes and 10 fours in his seventh ODI 100 said.
“I think the wicket just deteriorated as the game went on and they spun the ball a lot more than us.”
“It is just they got a little bit more purchase out of the wicket.”
Miller said it would be a great final: “I’ll be honest with you; I think I’ll be supporting New Zealand.”