Dinesh Karthik has had a perfect redemption in recent times. And his timeless knock of 55 on Friday helped his team post a match-winning total on Friday.
It was a do-or-die match for the men in blue, who were 2-1 down in the 5-game series. Hence to remain in the series and push it towards the finale in Bengaluru, they needed to win this game.
Karthik’s great inning of 55
But they certainly didn’t start on the right foot.
Losing the toss, they were forced to bat first on a tricky wicket where the ball was doing everything. Courtesy of some good bowling and some reckless stroke play, India could only accumulate 81 runs in their 12 overs. It looked certain that India was not going to post a competitive total.
That is when in walked the veteran. And changed the complexion of the game completely.
He opened his account with a positive-looking sweep towards the deep square leg in the 15th over. Then, in the next over, he showed his intent by smashing the most economical bowler of the match for 2 fours. Along with Pandya, they accumulated over 12 runs in the 16th over.
This over brought a shift in the momentum for India. They looked in control and brewing with confidence. Karthik launched an attack on the finger Spinner, Keshav Maharaj, in the seventeenth. He smoked him for three boundaries in the above to dismantle his good works.
The destructive spree saw him smoke Pretorius for 14 runs in the first three balls of his 3rd over. By this time, Karthik was entirely in control and looking destructive.
He brought up his half-century in the 20th over by sailing the ball over the ropes. With this, he also surpassed his previous best of 48 runs in T20Is. Sadly, he couldn’t finish the game for his team as he was dismissed in the very next ball.
Karthik’s destructive knock of 55 included 9 fours and 2 sixes. This helped his team reach a respectable total of 169.
Miracle in the bowling
The bowlers completed the remaining job. With Avesh Khan being the pick of bowlers, he claimed four scalps to keep the Protean batters at bay. He got support from Chahal, Harshal, and Axar Patel, who claimed four wickets in total.
This excellent performance saw South Africa crumble to a score of 87. Handing India a comfortable victory by 82 runs.
Dinesh Karthik was adjudged as the man of the match for his knock.
