ENG vs SA | Twitter reacts as Bullseye Buttler cutting Klaasen's stay short leaves Miller with hands on hips

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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Never underestimate the ability of big game players to impact games out of the blue -- a valuable lesson the Proteas were reminded of on Friday. David Miller's unnecessary call to sneak a bye ended up costing the team big time after Jos Buttler nailed the throw to dispatch Heinrich Klaasen.

EnglandĀ scripted a brilliant comeback with the ball in the first innings of their Super 8 clash against South Africa at Gros Islet. After Quinton de Kock's explosive 38-ball 65 had left them desparately seeking answers, a flurry of quick wickets meant the Proteas suddenly found themselves reeling at 115/4 with just five overs to go. Skipper Jos Buttler had a huge role to play in the mini collapse, having first taken a brilliant grab to de Kock before outdoing himself to get rid of the dangerous Klaasen.

Mark Wood had the ball in hand in the 16th over and delivered a wayward slow bouncer on the penultimate delivery that sailed over Klaasen's head enroute to Buttler. However, the Kookaburra landed awkwardly in front of the wicket-keeper before thumping into his pads and tumbling off to his left. While Klaasen took a moment to turn around and get up to sync withĀ the action, David Miller at the other end raced off for a run and Klaasen decided to trust his teammate's call. Buttler,Ā sensing an opportunity, rushed after the ball that had ended up where fine leg would usually be stationed beforeĀ picking it up and one smooth motion slinging it at the non-striker's end while executing a turnaround. Much to the shock of players and commentators alike, the white rock hit the bullseye to catch Klaasen well short of the mark, ending his stay for a sluggish eight.

Buttler was unsurprisingly ecstatic as he leaped in the air in joy while Klaasen stoically continued running towards the dugout. However,Ā no one was more perturbed than Miller, who immediately let go off his bat and held his hips in disappointment with eyes fixated on the ground, given he had made the call for the run. Twitter, meanwhile, sympathized with the Proteas batter, putting the incident down to simply a case of Buttler being his brilliant self.

What a direct hit!

Turning point

Domination

Losing this

Beauty

Run out of the year

On rampage

Victim now

Ridiculous

Momentum

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