Cricket

‘Terrific fightback from team India’- fans impressed as India crush South Africa in Rajkot to level the series

India beat South Africa by 82 runs in the fourth T20I and, thereby, levelled the series 2-2 on Friday in Rajkot.

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Indian Cricket Team: (Image Source: Twitter)

India stormed back into the five-match T20 series after winning the second T20 international by 82 runs on Friday in Rajkot. With that win, the series is now levelled at 2-2.

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After being asked to bat first, India managed to score a competitive total of 169 runs on the board at the end of the first innings. The Men in Blue didn’t start off too well. The likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad (5 off 7) and Shreyas Iyer (4 off 2) failed to hit the straps. Ishan Kishan too struggled his way to 27 off 26 balls. India had lost first three wickets for just 40 runs in 6.1 overs.

Rishabh Pant, once again, failed to live up to the expectations as he too departed after a disappointing 23-ball 17. India, at that stage, were reeling at 81 for 4 in 12.5 overs. However, the arrival of Dinesh Karthik turned India’s fortunes in the game.

He went after the bowlers right from the onset and played shots all around the ground. Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya stitched an outstanding 65-run partnership for the 5th wicket.

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Karthik played a sensational knock of 55 runs in 27 balls, including 9 fours and 2 sixes. Hardik Pandya, once again, played a stellar knock of 46 runs in just 31 deliveries. Thanks to those two valuable contributions, India managed to score a winning score in the first innings.

Indian bowlers started exceedingly well. Apart from Hardik Pandya's 12-run over, India gave South Africa batters little room to work with in the powerplay. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh and Harshal Patel all were wonderful in the first six overs. South Africa lost Quinton de Kock and Pretorius inside the powerplay.

Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, thereafter and India produced a collective bowling effort. Not a single South African batter had an answer to some exceptional bowling from India. For India, Avesh Khan was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 for 18, while Yuzvendra Chahal returned with outstanding figures of 2 for 21 in 4 overs. South Africa, as a result, could only manage to score 87 runs.

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Here's a look at some of the reactions from the game:

Harshal Patel Cricket News India vs South Africa 2022 Rishabh Pant Hardik Pandya Dinesh Karthik South Africa India