India vs South Africa: Dinesh Karthik, Pacers Help India Level Series.

India vs South Africa: Dinesh Karthik hit his first 50 in T20I as India beat South Africa to draw the series level setting up an exciting finale.

For the fourth time India were batting first and they got off to an indifferent start. Both openers Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad struggled to get going with pitch assisting pacers.

Ruturaj Gaikwad and then Shreyas Iyer were back in the pavilion in quick succession as India were 2 down for 24.

Just after the end of PowerPlay they were 3 down as Ishan Kishan departed with Anrich Nortje striking.

Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya managed to arrest the slide and put on a 41-run stand. Pant fell in the 13 over with the score 81/4.

South Africa seemed in control but Dinesh Karthik had other ideas. Karthik took on Nortje to fetch three boundaries in the over and then took on Maharaj in the following over.

Dwaine Pretorius was the next in line as Karthik gave him a hiding as well. After sweeping him for a six, the veteran hit the next two deliveries for boundaries as well to absolutely stun the opposition camp.

Karthik continued to make merry and bring up a fifty off just 26 balls. India, in quite incredible fashion, managed to score 73 runs from those final five overs as India finished with 169/6 in 20 overs.

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South Africa had a tough going from the beginning. Indian bowlers bowled well on a surface which aided them. Quinton De Kock looked good for his stay on the wicket but then then ran himself out.

The visitors were down to 35/2 after 6 overs.

There were huge hopes on David Miller given the kind of form he has been in. He did smoke one over cow corner in the same over Yuzvendra Chahal managed to trap Heinrich Klaasen leg-before-wicket.

Harshal Patel then dismissed Miller to put India in a strong position. At 59/5 in 10 overs the game was slipping away from South Africa. 

Avesh then ripped through the South African lineup with a three-wicket over that effectively ended the chase.

The pacer removed Rassie van der Dussen, Jansen and Maharaja as the visitors eventually crumbled a few overs later for 87. 

India will now be strong favourities heading into the decider on Sunday as South Africa’s hopes a big away series win look in tatters.

Brief scores: India vs South Africa

India 169/6 in 20 overs (Dinesh Karthik 55, Hardik Pandya 46; Lungi Ngidi 2/20)

South Africa 87 in 16.5 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 20; Avesh Khan 4/18, Yuzvendra Chahal 2/21)