Xtra Time Web Desk: Dinesh Karthik played a knock to remember before Avesh Khan gave his dad a “perfect birthday present with a fiery spell as India steam-rolled South Africa by 82 runs here on Friday to level the five-match series 2-2 at Rajkot.
Karthik (55 off 27) scored his maiden fifty close to 16 years after his T20 debut and alongside vice-captain Hardik Pandya (46 off 31) took India to a fighting 169 for six. For the second game in a row, South African batters faltered and collapsed to 87 for nine in 16.5 overs overs with skipper Temba Bavuma retired hurt.
Avesh (4/18) led India’s brilliant display with the ball all and recorded his career-best figures in the process. It was an away team’s lowest total in T20Is in India.
The deciding match of the T20I series will be played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, June 19.