IND VS SA 4TH T20I: India thrash South Africa by 82 runs in Rajkot

India produced yet another bowling masterclass at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Friday. The Rishabh Pant-led side thrashed South Africa by a record 82 runs to level the 5-match series 2-2. Such was the dominance that South Africa were bundled for a mere 87 runs in the run-chase, their lowest-ever total in T20Is.

Also read: England break own record, post highest ODI total

Chasing a 170-run target, South Africa got off to a sedate start, scoring only 35 runs in the powerplay and losing 2 wickets in the process. The Proteas just never got going as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Avesh Khan was the pick of the bowlers as he registered his career-best figures of 4 for 18 as India managed to take the series to the decider in Bengaluru on Sunday

Earlier, Indian openers failed to repeat the heroics from the third T20I as both Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad perished early. Captain Rishabh Pant with his deputy Hardik Pandya tried to rebuild the Indian innings but Pant could only manage 17 off 23 balls. The Men In Blue were struggling at 81 for four before an explosive 65-run stand between Hardik and comeback-man Dinesh Karthik brought the home team back into the game. Karthik was in sensational touch, slamming his maiden T20I fifty, 16 years after he first made his debut. 73 runs came off the last five overs, propelling India to 169.